PuckSleuthCap hit
$4.35M
4.2% of $104M cap
Term
3 yrs
Through 2028-29
Clause
None
Surplus value
+$338K
vs. $4.688M market estimate
Confirmed by the public signing announcement · source
2026-27 regular season
GP
1
Goals
0
0.0% shooting
Assists
0
0 primary
Points
0
0.00 per game
TOI/GP
20:55
PP 0:00 · PK 5:21
xGF%
50.8
5v5, +0.3 vs. last yr
Game Score
-0.23
per game, goals above average
Faceoff %
—
Plus/minus
-2
Blocks 0 · Hits 3
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1 vs SEA · L 6-1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 20:55 | 0:00 | 5:21 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2 | -0.23 |
| May 13 @ COL · OTL 4-3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 21:55 | 0:00 | 1:07 | — | 0 | 1 | 0 | -2 | -0.18 |
| May 11 vs COL · L 5-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 12:43 | 0:00 | 1:03 | — | 100 | 0 | 0 | -1 | -0.16 |
| May 9 vs COL · W 5-1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 14:26 | 0:00 | 2:01 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -0.04 |
| May 5 @ COL · L 5-2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 18:09 | 0:00 | 2:40 | — | 20 | 0 | 0 | -1 | +0.02 |
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 · 1,130 min · percentile vs. NHL defensemen
60th percentile
51st percentile
69th percentile
21st percentile
19th percentile
30th percentile
38th percentile
34th percentile
14th percentile
45th percentile
14th percentile
61st percentile
47th percentile
22nd 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 stylePuck-moving defenseman
Trait percentiles vs. NHL defensemen · 2025-26
Middleton excels at moving the puck up ice with crisp passes and managing possessions smoothly, while his physical play anchors the defensive side. He gets involved in transition with strong rush chances but doesn't generate much offense from his shot.
- Shooting volume
- 20
- Playmaking
- 60
- Zone entries(est.)
- 73
- Forechecking
- 58
- Physicality
- 75
- Defensive impact
- 63
- Puck management
- 83
- Speed
- 53
Where he shoots from
Slot 10% · Mid-range 27% · Perimeter 63%(96 unblocked shots)
Strengths
- Excellent puck management skills at 83rd percentile keep plays moving
- Physicality ranks 75th percentile, setting a strong defensive tone
- Rush chances reach 73rd percentile, enabling transition opportunities
Watch-outs
- Shooting volume in 20th percentile shows minimal offensive output
- Speed at 53rd percentile limits ability to create space and drive play
- Playmaking at 60th percentile leaves room to generate more scoring chances
Similar style: Alexandre Carrier (MTL), Jared Spurgeon (MIN)
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 · 75 GP · goals above average
Season total -3.8 goals, or -0.05 per game.
- Even strength offense
- -0.1
- Even strength defense
- +0.3
- Penalty kill
- -0.7
- Finishing
- -1.6
- Playmaking
- -0.3
- Penalties
- -1.3
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | CGY | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2 | 2 | 20:55 | — | -0.23 |
| 2025-26 | MIN | 75 | 2 | 14 | 16 | +2 | 62 | 17:30 | — | -0.05 |
| 2024-25 | MIN | 67 | 8 | 13 | 21 | +11 | 97 | 21:52 | — | -0.01 |
| 2023-24 | MIN | 80 | 7 | 18 | 25 | -15 | 85 | 19:49 | — | -0.01 |
| 2022-23 | MIN | 79 | 3 | 12 | 15 | +15 | 79 | 19:02 | — | -0.06 |
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 30, defensemen typically produce 89% of their peak (age 24). His contract runs through age 32, when the typical level is 81%.
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
- 21.8 mph
- 53rd pct
- 20+ mph bursts
- 38
- Hardest shot
- 84.9 mph
- 24th pct
- Distance
- 180.8 mi
- OZ time
- 39.0%
- 10th pct
- DZ time
- 43.1%