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Zach Metsa

#73 · Defenseman · Buffalo Sabres

Shoots right · 27 years old

GamesGPGoalsGAssistsAPointsPShotsSOGIce timeTOI
This season4011111:25
Last season432462410:58

Role

Where he fits on Buffalo right now.

Line

P3 with L. Crevier · 6:26 a game together

Power play

Not on either unit

Penalty kill

Starts the kill 8 of 10 kills · 0:51 a kill · starts 6

Ice time

11:25 a game, 6th-most among Buffalo defensemen · 9:28 5-on-5 · 1:42 PK

Competition

Easier opponents than 93% of defensemen · home 99%, road about average

Easier opponents than 91% of defensemen

What’s changed

  • Z. Metsa has started killing penalties: on the ice for 46% of the team’s shorthanded time in 4 games, up from 7% last season.

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

  • Top speed

    21.1 mphslower than 92% of defensemen

  • Hitting

    hitting score 320.70 hits /60behind 80% of defensemenfewer than 95% of defensemen

  • Shooting volume

    7.8 shot attempts /60behind 79% 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

  • Fast bursts

    0.0 bursts /60less often than 92% of defensemen

  • Top speed

    19.7 mphslower than 89% of 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.

Zach MetsaAverage defensemanLikely range

This season’s 4 games blended with last season’s 43, and pulled toward the average defenseman by an amount that depends on how quickly each rating settles.

This season’s 4 games only, pulled toward the average defenseman. Expect wide ranges this early.

Driving play at 5-on-5

  • Creating chances
    Along for the rideDrives play

    −0.12 expected goals /60bottom 26%

    −0.04 expected goals /60bottom 44%

  • Preventing chances
    Chances against riseShuts it down

    −0.03 expected goals against /60average

    no measurable changeaverage

Scoring

  • Shooting volume
    Rarely shootsFires away

    7.8 shot attempts /60bottom 21%

    9.4 shot attempts /60average

  • Creating his own chances
    Few chancesDangerous

    0.16 expected goals /60bottom 35%

    0.18 expected goals /60average

  • Finishing
    Below expectedSniper

    +0.3 goals above expected /100 shotstop 37%

    +0.2 goals above expected /100 shotsaverage

  • Setting up goals
    Rarely sets upPlaymaker

    0.30 first assists /60bottom 28%

    0.36 first assists /60top 27%

Special teams

  • Power-play chances
    QuietThreat

    0.62 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

    0.88 expected goals for /60average

Physical and puck

Penalties and faceoffs

  • Drawing penalties
    RarelyDraws calls

    0.52 penalties drawn /60top 29%

    0.50 penalties drawn /60top 36%

  • Staying out of the box
    Often penalizedClean

    0.66 penalties taken /60average

    0.74 penalties taken /60bottom 39%

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
1123719211

37 unblocked shots, this season and last, from his point of view. Empty nets left out.

11

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

How his misses miss

  • Wide left2
  • Wide right6
  • Over the net4
  • Off the post or crossbar0
  • Short or other0

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

  • Wide left0
  • Wide right1
  • Over the net0
  • Off the post or crossbar0
  • Short or other0

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

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 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.