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Hits and takeaways

Matt Grzelcyk

#24 · Defenseman · Buffalo Sabres

Shoots left · 32 years old

GamesGPGoalsGAssistsAPointsPShotsSOGIce timeTOI
This season1000014:27
Last season69012126816:58

Role

Where he fits on Buffalo right now.

Line

Not part of one of the team’s usual pairs over the last 4 games; has played 1 of the team’s 4 games this season.

Power play

Not on either unit

Penalty kill

Spot duty 1 of 10 kills · 1:06 a kill

Ice time

14:27 a game, 6th-most among Buffalo defensemen · 13:21 5-on-5 · 1:06 PK

Competition

Easier opponents than 81% of defensemen · home 90%, road 65%

Tougher opponents than 62% of defensemen

Where he stands out

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

Better than most at his position

Nothing yet where we can be confident he is above most defensemen.

Behind most at his position

  • Creating his own chances

    0.10 expected goals /60behind 99% of defensemen

  • Drawing penalties

    0.29 penalties drawn /60behind 89% of defensemen

  • Shot blocking

    blocking score 742.83 blocks /60behind 87% of defensemenfewer than 91% of defensemen

  • Preventing chances

    +0.09 expected goals against /60behind 82% of defensemen

Listed only when we can be confident he is above or below average. Numbers from this season and last, through Oct 10. Compared with defensemen who have played at least 20 games over the two seasons.

Better than most at his position

Nothing yet where we can be confident he is above most defensemen.

Behind most at his position

Nothing yet where we can be confident he is below most defensemen.

Listed only when we can be confident he is above or below average. Numbers from this season, through Oct 10. Compared with defensemen who have played at least 3 games.

All ratings

Every rating, against other defensemen.

Matt GrzelcykAverage defensemanLikely range

This season’s 1 game blended with last season’s 69, and pulled toward the average defenseman by an amount that depends on how quickly each rating settles.

He played for Chicago Blackhawks 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.

This season’s 1 game only, pulled toward the average defenseman. Expect wide ranges this early.

Driving play at 5-on-5

  • Creating chances
    Along for the rideDrives play

    −0.05 expected goals /60bottom 41%

    −0.04 expected goals /60too few games

  • Preventing chances
    Chances against riseShuts it down

    +0.09 expected goals against /60bottom 18%

    −0.04 expected goals against /60too few games

Scoring

  • Shooting volume
    Rarely shootsFires away

    7.9 shot attempts /60bottom 23%

    9.4 shot attempts /60too few games

  • Creating his own chances
    Few chancesDangerous

    0.10 expected goals /60bottom 1%

    0.19 expected goals /60too few games

  • Finishing
    Below expectedSniper

    −0.0 goals above expected /100 shotsbottom 26%

    +0.2 goals above expected /100 shotstoo few games

  • Setting up goals
    Rarely sets upPlaymaker

    0.34 first assists /60top 43%

    0.33 first assists /60too few games

Special teams

  • Power-play chances
    QuietThreat

    0.63 expected goals /60too few games

    0.73 expected goals /60too few games

  • Shorthanded threat
    Pure defensePower kill

    0.92 expected goals for /60too few games

    0.87 expected goals for /60too few games

Physical and puck

  • Hitting
    Avoids contactPhysical

    hitting score 35bottom 22%1.42 hits /60bottom 26%

    hitting score 70too few games0.00 hits /60too few games

  • Shot blocking
    Rarely blocksShot blocker

    blocking score 74bottom 13%2.83 blocks /60bottom 9%

    blocking score 98too few games4.15 blocks /60too few games

  • Takeaways
    RarePuck thief

    takeaway score 113top 28%1.06 takeaways /60top 19%

    takeaway score 99too few games0.00 takeaways /60too few games

Penalties and faceoffs

  • Drawing penalties
    RarelyDraws calls

    0.29 penalties drawn /60bottom 11%

    0.44 penalties drawn /60too few games

  • Staying out of the box
    Often penalizedClean

    0.54 penalties taken /60top 34%

    0.66 penalties taken /60too few games

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

Shots

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

Show
2216639217282

118 unblocked shots, this season and last, from his point of view. 4 more from outside the zone. Empty nets left out.

0 unblocked shots, this season, from his point of view. Empty nets left out.

How his misses miss

  • Wide left20
  • Wide right24
  • Over the net3
  • Off the post or crossbar2
  • Short or other1

50 missed shots. “Wide left” is from his point of view.

No missed shots yet.

The NHL’s game data records how a shot missed, but not where in the net a goal or save went (glove side, blocker, five-hole). That needs paid camera tracking, so we don’t show it.

Skating and shot

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

  • Top speed
    SlowerBurner

    21.6 mphbottom 24%

    18.5 mphtoo few games

  • Fast bursts
    RareFrequent

    1.2 bursts /60bottom 30%

    0.0 bursts /60too few games

  • Hardest shot
    SofterCannon

    96.7 mphtop 20%

    78.9 mphtoo few games

  • Distance skated
    ShorterCovers ground

    8.50 miles /60average

    8.78 miles /60too few games

  • Time in the offensive zone
    DefendingAttacking

    41.1% of his timebottom 28%

    41.0% of his timetoo few games

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.