PuckSleuthCap hit
$4.9M
4.7% of $104M cap
Term
2 yrs
Through 2027-28, then UFA
Clause
None
Surplus value
−$573K
vs. $4.327M market estimate
Confirmed by the public signing announcement · source
2025-26 regular season
GP
82
Goals
3
4.0% shooting
Assists
16
4 primary
Points
19
0.23 per game
TOI/GP
21:27
PP 0:07 · PK 2:16
xGF%
50.9
5v5, -4.2 vs. last yr
Game Score
-0.06
per game, goals above average
Faceoff %
—
Plus/minus
+7
Blocks 109 · Hits 115
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 16 vs SJS · L 6-1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 19:45 | 0:00 | 1:57 | — | 75 | 3 | 0 | -4 | -0.25 |
| Apr 14 @ UTA · L 5-3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 17:57 | 0:00 | 3:29 | — | 33 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -0.18 |
| Apr 13 @ VGK · L 6-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 23:36 | 0:04 | 7:22 | — | 20 | 0 | 0 | -1 | +0.13 |
| Apr 11 vs PHI · L 7-1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 22:02 | 0:23 | 1:23 | — | 80 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +0.10 |
| Apr 9 @ STL · W 3-2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 23:10 | 0:00 | 2:41 | — | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | -0.37 |
GS = our Game Score, goals above average. FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.
Advanced metrics
5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 1,475 min · percentile vs. NHL defensemen
64th percentile
93rd percentile
44th percentile
57th percentile
74th percentile
66th percentile
57th percentile
39th percentile
72nd percentile
12th percentile
48th percentile
19th percentile
46th percentile
80th percentile
xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.
Play styleShutdown defenseman
Trait percentiles vs. NHL defensemen · 2025-26
DeMelo is a defensive anchor who excels at limiting chances and controlling play through smart positioning rather than flashy skills. He plays a grinding, stay-at-home game focused on stopping opponents, though he rarely drives offense or attacks with speed.
- Shooting volume
- 23
- Playmaking
- 14
- Zone entries(est.)
- 49
- Forechecking
- 54
- Physicality
- 57
- Defensive impact
- 83
- Puck management
- 71
- Speed
- 10
Where he shoots from
Slot 5% · Mid-range 18% · Perimeter 77%(132 unblocked shots)
Strengths
- Excellent defensive impact in the 83rd percentile keeps opponents off the scoreboard
- Strong puck management in 71st percentile limits turnovers and maintains possession
- Solid forechecking in 54th percentile contributes to defensive pressure and transition play
Watch-outs
- Bottom 10th percentile in speed limits his ability to recover and chase down plays
- Minimal playmaking at 14th percentile means few offensive contributions from the blue line
- Very low shooting volume in 23rd percentile shows he rarely threatens the net
Similar style: Connor Murphy (EDM), Joel Hanley (CGY)
Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.
Where his Game Score comes from
2025-26 · 82 GP · goals above average
Season total -4.8 goals, or -0.06 per game.
- Even strength offense
- -0.1
- Even strength defense
- +0.6
- Power play
- -0.2
- Penalty kill
- -0.1
- Finishing
- -0.1
- Playmaking
- -3.8
- Penalties
- -1.1
Game Score adds up a player's impact in goals compared with an average player given the same ice time: his share of expected goals for and against at even strength, on the power play, and on the penalty kill, plus finishing (goals minus expected goals), primary assists, penalties drawn and taken, and faceoffs. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.
By season
Regular season
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | P | +/- | SOG | TOI/GP | FO% | GS/GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | WPG | 82 | 3 | 16 | 19 | +7 | 75 | 21:27 | — | -0.06 |
| 2024-25 | WPG | 82 | 3 | 16 | 19 | +31 | 75 | 21:32 | — | -0.01 |
| 2023-24 | WPG | 82 | 3 | 28 | 31 | +46 | 83 | 21:44 | — | +0.02 |
| 2022-23 | WPG | 75 | 6 | 21 | 27 | +10 | 93 | 19:34 | — | +0.00 |
Sentiment & chatter
Fans
—
Beat writers
—
Media
—
Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.
Age curve
NHL defensemen · production index
At 33, defensemen typically produce 76% of their peak (age 24). His contract runs through age 34, when the typical level is 71%.
From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.
Skating · NHL EDGE
2025-26, as of Oct 2
- Top speed
- 20.5 mph
- 14th pct
- 20+ mph bursts
- 8
- Hardest shot
- 86.6 mph
- 30th pct
- Distance
- 229.9 mi
- OZ time
- 40.9%
- 39th pct
- DZ time
- 41.4%