Nick Paul

Where he fits on Toronto 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 51, and pulled toward the average forward by an amount that depends on how quickly each rating settles.

He played for Tampa Bay Lightning 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 wingers with wingers, 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

  −0.23 expected goals /60bottom 5%

  −0.02 expected goals /60bottom 40%

• Preventing chances
  Chances against riseShuts it down

  −0.02 expected goals against /60average

  +0.09 expected goals against /60bottom 20%

Scoring

• Shooting volume
  Rarely shootsFires away

  12.1 shot attempts /60bottom 40%

  12.5 shot attempts /60average

• Creating his own chances
  Few chancesDangerous

  0.75 expected goals /60average

  0.80 expected goals /60top 36%

• Finishing
  Below expectedSniper

  −0.5 goals above expected /100 shotsbottom 44%

  −0.4 goals above expected /100 shotsaverage

• Setting up goals
  Rarely sets upPlaymaker

  0.52 first assists /60bottom 33%

  0.59 first assists /60top 34%

Special teams

• Power-play chances
  QuietThreat

  1.79 expected goals /60bottom 42%

  1.80 expected goals /60too few games

• Shorthanded threat
  Pure defensePower kill

  0.75 expected goals for /60bottom 24%

  0.83 expected goals for /60bottom 41%

Physical and puck

• Hitting
  Avoids contactPhysical

  hitting score 94top 40%6.49 hits /60top 30%

  hitting score 90top 43%6.85 hits /60top 28%

• Shot blocking
  Rarely blocksShot blocker

  blocking score 116top 30%2.47 blocks /60top 41%

  blocking score 116top 30%3.81 blocks /60top 8%

• Takeaways
  RarePuck thief

  takeaway score 74bottom 15%0.70 takeaways /60bottom 23%

  takeaway score 85bottom 31%0.00 takeaways /60bottom 1%

Penalties and faceoffs

• Drawing penalties
  RarelyDraws calls

  0.89 penalties drawn /60top 35%

  0.90 penalties drawn /60top 33%

• Staying out of the box
  Often penalizedClean

  0.83 penalties taken /60bottom 29%

  0.84 penalties taken /60bottom 28%

• Faceoffs
  Loses drawsWins draws

  50.5% wonaverage

  48.4% wonbottom 39%

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

  22.5 mphaverage

  21.3 mphbottom 41%

• Fast bursts
  RareFrequent

  5.6 bursts /60average

  3.8 bursts /60bottom 33%

• Hardest shot
  SofterCannon

  82.9 mphbottom 15%

  60.4 mphbottom 3%

• Distance skated
  ShorterCovers ground

  9.64 miles /60average

  9.57 miles /60bottom 39%

• Time in the offensive zone
  DefendingAttacking

  41.3% of his timeaverage

  40.4% of his timebottom 43%

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.