PuckSleuth
49

Tampa Bay Lightning · Right wing · Shoots R

Scott Sabourin

Age 34 · 6'3" · 210 lb · Born in Orleans, CAN

Cap hit

$850K

0.8% of $104M cap

Term

1 yr

Through 2026-27, then UFA

Clause

None

Surplus value

—

needs 40 recent games

Contract details from our records; public announcement not yet matched

2025-26 regular season

GP

26

Goals

1

9.1% shooting

Assists

4

3 primary

Points

5

0.19 per game

TOI/GP

7:57

PP 0:00 · PK 0:00

xGF%

50.8

5v5, +42.4 vs. last yr

Game Score

-0.06

per game, goals above average

Faceoff %

—

0 W · 2 L

Plus/minus

+1

Blocks 11 · Hits 63

Game log

Last 5 games · NHL API

GameGASOGHITBLKTOIPPPKFOOZS%GVTK+/-GS
Apr 24
@ MTL · OTL 3-2
000103:440:000:00——200-0.06
Apr 21
vs MTL · W 3-2
000508:200:000:00—100000-0.30
Apr 15
vs NYR · L 4-2
0112011:270:000:00—5010+1+0.52
Apr 13
vs DET · W 4-3
000318:560:000:00—50000-0.21
Apr 11
@ BOS · W 2-1
000109:330:000:00—0100-0.14

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 · 205 min · percentile vs. NHL forwards

xGF%50.8%

63rd percentile

Relative xGF%-5.7

14th percentile

HDCF%55.9%

81st percentile

CF%46.4%

23rd percentile

Relative CF%-8.0

4th percentile

FF%46.7%

25th percentile

GF%53.3%

69th percentile

CF/6049.3

14th percentile

CA/6056.9

57th percentile

ixG/600.53

8th percentile

Goals above expected-0.8

47th percentile

IPP62.5%

41st percentile

PDO101.3

68th percentile

OZS%48.8%

38th 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 styleRelentless physical forward

Trait percentiles vs. NHL wingers · 2025-26

Sabourin plays a high-energy, contact-heavy game with outstanding forechecking and physicality that creates chaos in the attacking zone. He's a willing playmaker and defensive liability whose limited shot volume and weak puck handling make him more of a depth role player than an offensive threat.

PhysicalForecheckingLimited offensive touch
Shooting volume
19
Playmaking
78
Zone entries(est.)
66
Forechecking
93
Physicality
95
Defensive impact
26
Puck management
24
Speed
38

Where he shoots from

Slot 48% · Mid-range 33% · Perimeter 19%(27 unblocked shots)

Strengths

  • Elite forechecking (93rd percentile) generates turnovers and second chances
  • Exceptional physicality (95th percentile) wears down opponents and sets physical tone
  • Strong playmaking (78th percentile) on rare chances when he has the puck

Watch-outs

  • Minimal shooting volume (19th percentile) limits direct scoring impact
  • Poor puck management (24th percentile) leads to turnovers and giveaways
  • Below-average defensive impact (26th percentile) despite forechecking effort

Similar style: Keegan Kolesar (DET), Tanner Jeannot (BOS)

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 · 26 GP · goals above average

Season total -1.6 goals, or -0.06 per game.

Finishing
-0.8
Playmaking
+0.3
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

SeasonTeamGPGAP+/-SOGTOI/GPFO%GS/GP
2025-26TBL26145+1117:57—-0.06
2024-25SJS1000-2010:27—-0.20
2023-24SJS3000039:17—-0.33

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 forwards · production index

202937

At 34, forwards typically produce 63% of their peak (age 24).

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
21.9 mph
35th pct
20+ mph bursts
27
Hardest shot
83.7 mph
42nd pct
Distance
34.7 mi
OZ time
39.7%
17th pct
DZ time
42.0%