Elmer Soderblom

Where he fits on Pittsburgh right now.

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

Every rating, against other forwards.

This season’s 1 game blended with last season’s 59, and pulled toward the average forward by an amount that depends on how quickly each rating settles.

He played for Detroit Red Wings 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 1 game only, pulled toward the average forward. Expect wide ranges this early.

Driving play at 5-on-5

• Creating chances
  Along for the rideDrives play

  −0.04 expected goals /60bottom 35%

  −0.02 expected goals /60too few games

• Preventing chances
  Chances against riseShuts it down

  −0.15 expected goals against /60top 12%

  −0.03 expected goals against /60too few games

Scoring

• Shooting volume
  Rarely shootsFires away

  12.7 shot attempts /60average

  12.4 shot attempts /60too few games

• Creating his own chances
  Few chancesDangerous

  0.74 expected goals /60average

  0.75 expected goals /60too few games

• Finishing
  Below expectedSniper

  −0.4 goals above expected /100 shotsaverage

  −0.4 goals above expected /100 shotstoo few games

• Setting up goals
  Rarely sets upPlaymaker

  0.52 first assists /60bottom 34%

  0.56 first assists /60too few games

Special teams

• Power-play chances
  QuietThreat

  1.83 expected goals /60too few games

  1.83 expected goals /60too few games

• Shorthanded threat
  Pure defensePower kill

  0.86 expected goals for /60too few games

  0.88 expected goals for /60too few games

Physical and puck

• Hitting
  Avoids contactPhysical

  hitting score 151top 22%9.06 hits /60top 19%

  hitting score 109too few games9.49 hits /60too few games

• Shot blocking
  Rarely blocksShot blocker

  blocking score 91average2.24 blocks /60average

  blocking score 93too few games0.00 blocks /60too few games

• Takeaways
  RarePuck thief

  takeaway score 137top 9%1.26 takeaways /60top 18%

  takeaway score 118too few games4.74 takeaways /60too few games

Penalties and faceoffs

• Drawing penalties
  RarelyDraws calls

  1.05 penalties drawn /60top 19%

  0.79 penalties drawn /60too few games

• Staying out of the box
  Often penalizedClean

  0.81 penalties taken /60bottom 31%

  0.68 penalties taken /60too few games

• Faceoffs
  Loses drawsWins draws

  49.4% wontoo few games

  50.0% wontoo few games

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

  22.2 mphbottom 29%

  22.1 mphtoo few games

• Fast bursts
  RareFrequent

  8.3 bursts /60top 22%

  9.5 bursts /60too few games

• Hardest shot
  SofterCannon

  92.7 mphtop 15%

  28.3 mphtoo few games

• Distance skated
  ShorterCovers ground

  9.68 miles /60top 43%

  9.62 miles /60too few games

• Time in the offensive zone
  DefendingAttacking

  41.8% of his timetop 35%

  47.9% 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.