Cole Smith

Where he fits on Chicago 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 63, and pulled toward the average forward by an amount that depends on how quickly each rating settles.

He played for Nashville Predators 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

  −0.06 expected goals /60bottom 30%

  −0.00 expected goals /60bottom 42%

• Preventing chances
  Chances against riseShuts it down

  −0.14 expected goals against /60top 14%

  −0.01 expected goals against /60average

Scoring

• Shooting volume
  Rarely shootsFires away

  10.1 shot attempts /60bottom 14%

  11.3 shot attempts /60bottom 29%

• Creating his own chances
  Few chancesDangerous

  0.68 expected goals /60bottom 29%

  0.71 expected goals /60bottom 37%

• Finishing
  Below expectedSniper

  −0.7 goals above expected /100 shotsbottom 17%

  −0.4 goals above expected /100 shotsaverage

• Setting up goals
  Rarely sets upPlaymaker

  0.43 first assists /60bottom 5%

  0.54 first assists /60bottom 42%

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

  0.69 expected goals for /60bottom 12%

  0.89 expected goals for /60top 41%

Physical and puck

• Hitting
  Avoids contactPhysical

  hitting score 125top 30%11.92 hits /60top 11%

  hitting score 99top 38%6.47 hits /60top 30%

• Shot blocking
  Rarely blocksShot blocker

  blocking score 73bottom 23%2.11 blocks /60average

  blocking score 73bottom 24%0.00 blocks /60bottom 1%

• Takeaways
  RarePuck thief

  takeaway score 101top 41%0.99 takeaways /60top 41%

  takeaway score 102top 41%0.81 takeaways /60bottom 38%

Penalties and faceoffs

• Drawing penalties
  RarelyDraws calls

  0.66 penalties drawn /60bottom 26%

  0.70 penalties drawn /60bottom 36%

• Staying out of the box
  Often penalizedClean

  1.02 penalties taken /60bottom 16%

  0.72 penalties taken /60bottom 42%

• Faceoffs
  Loses drawsWins draws

  46.0% wontoo few games

  48.4% 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

  23.5 mphtop 8%

  22.4 mphtop 12%

• Fast bursts
  RareFrequent

  8.2 bursts /60top 23%

  7.3 bursts /60top 34%

• Hardest shot
  SofterCannon

  79.3 mphbottom 5%

  72.4 mphbottom 20%

• Distance skated
  ShorterCovers ground

  9.39 miles /60bottom 32%

  9.46 miles /60bottom 33%

• Time in the offensive zone
  DefendingAttacking

  43.7% of his timetop 8%

  36.3% of his timebottom 9%

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.