Nic Dowd

Where he fits on Vegas right now.

What he does better or worse than most players at his position.

Every rating, against other forwards.

This season’s 5 games blended with last season’s 75, and pulled toward the average forward by an amount that depends on how quickly each rating settles.

He played for Washington Capitals last season. Habits that travel with a player (shooting, hitting, penalties) still use that season in full; setting up goals, finishing, faceoffs and power-play chances depend more on linemates and role, so they lean on it less. We measured how much each one carries over for players who change teams.

Shooting volume, creating his own chances, shot blocking, hardest shot and distance skated compare centers with centers, because centers and wingers really differ there. Everything else compares all forwards.

This season’s 5 games only, pulled toward the average forward. Expect wide ranges this early.

Driving play at 5-on-5

• Creating chances
  Along for the rideDrives play

  −0.25 expected goals /60bottom 4%

  −0.04 expected goals /60bottom 36%

• Preventing chances
  Chances against riseShuts it down

  −0.12 expected goals against /60top 19%

  +0.02 expected goals against /60bottom 38%

Scoring

• Shooting volume
  Rarely shootsFires away

  8.3 shot attempts /60bottom 11%

  10.2 shot attempts /60bottom 34%

• Creating his own chances
  Few chancesDangerous

  0.49 expected goals /60bottom 4%

  0.64 expected goals /60bottom 36%

• Finishing
  Below expectedSniper

  −0.5 goals above expected /100 shotsbottom 34%

  −0.4 goals above expected /100 shotsaverage

• Setting up goals
  Rarely sets upPlaymaker

  0.46 first assists /60bottom 11%

  0.59 first assists /60top 32%

Special teams

• Power-play chances
  QuietThreat

  1.83 expected goals /60too few games

  1.84 expected goals /60too few games

• Shorthanded threat
  Pure defensePower kill

  0.54 expected goals for /60bottom 1%

  0.84 expected goals for /60average

Physical and puck

• Hitting
  Avoids contactPhysical

  hitting score 119top 32%7.68 hits /60top 24%

  hitting score 107top 36%7.33 hits /60top 25%

• Shot blocking
  Rarely blocksShot blocker

  blocking score 119top 29%3.19 blocks /60top 24%

  blocking score 102top 42%3.14 blocks /60top 25%

• Takeaways
  RarePuck thief

  takeaway score 90bottom 40%0.99 takeaways /60top 40%

  takeaway score 89bottom 37%0.00 takeaways /60bottom 1%

Penalties and faceoffs

• Drawing penalties
  RarelyDraws calls

  1.15 penalties drawn /60top 11%

  0.94 penalties drawn /60top 30%

• Staying out of the box
  Often penalizedClean

  1.36 penalties taken /60bottom 5%

  0.75 penalties taken /60bottom 38%

• Faceoffs
  Loses drawsWins draws

  44.3% wonbottom 13%

  44.8% wonbottom 13%

Hitting, shot blocking and takeaways are arena-adjusted scores (100 is the average forward); switch “Hits and takeaways” to Raw in the settings to see the numbers as recorded. How the ratings work.

Where his shots come from, and how his misses miss.

Speed, bursts, shot power and where he spends his shifts, from the NHL’s own tracking (NHL EDGE).

• Top speed
  SlowerBurner

  22.1 mphbottom 24%

  20.4 mphbottom 12%

• Fast bursts
  RareFrequent

  3.5 bursts /60bottom 26%

  1.1 bursts /60bottom 8%

• Hardest shot
  SofterCannon

  82.5 mphbottom 19%

  62.7 mphbottom 6%

• Distance skated
  ShorterCovers ground

  9.68 miles /60average

  9.94 miles /60top 31%

• Time in the offensive zone
  DefendingAttacking

  41.7% of his timetop 36%

  43.8% of his timetop 20%

Top speed and hardest shot are his best single moments over this season and lastthis season; bursts and distance are per 60 minutes of his ice time. Tracking data: NHL EDGE.