New York Islanders · Defense · Shoots R

Matthew Kessel

Age 26 · 6'3" · 215 lb · Born in Bloomfield Hills, USA

Cap hit

$850K

0.8% of $104M cap

Term

1 yr

Through 2026-27, then UFA

Clause

None

Surplus value

+$2.063M

vs. $2.913M market estimate

Contract details from our records; public announcement not yet matched

2025-26 regular season

Goals

10.0% shooting

Assists

1 primary

Points

0.10 per game

TOI/GP

12:32

PP 0:00 · PK 0:24

xGF%

44.1

5v5, -7.7 vs. last yr

Game Score

-0.00

per game, goals above average

Faceoff %

—

Plus/minus

Blocks 26 · Hits 22

Game log

Last 5 games · NHL API

Game	SOG	HIT	BLK	TOI	PP	PK	FO	OZS%	GV	+/-	GS
Apr 14 vs PIT · W 7-5	1	2	4	12:54	0:00	0:00	—	100	0	-1	-0.19
Mar 26 vs SJS · W 2-1	3	2	2	13:07	0:00	0:00	—	17	1	-1	-0.01
Mar 8 @ ANA · W 4-0	2	2	1	18:21	0:05	3:10	—	40	0	0	-0.22
Mar 6 @ SJS · W 3-2	0	0	2	14:21	0:00	0:00	—	100	2	+1	-0.26
Mar 4 @ SEA · W 3-2	0	3	2	13:10	0:00	2:02	—	—	0	0	+0.13

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 · 344 min · percentile vs. NHL defensemen

xGF%44.1%

13th percentile

Relative xGF%-7.3

7th percentile

HDCF%37.8%

6th percentile

CF%46.1%

20th percentile

Relative CF%+0.5

62nd percentile

FF%46.9%

28th percentile

GF%52.2%

65th percentile

CF/6045.9

4th percentile

CA/6053.6

82nd percentile

ixG/600.14

25th percentile

Goals above expected+1.2

71st percentile

IPP25.0%

14th percentile

PDO102.0

82nd percentile

OZS%61.0%

91st 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 styleStay-at-home defenseman

Trait percentiles vs. NHL defensemen · 2025-26

Kessel is a steady defensive presence who plays a straightforward game without excelling in any particular area. He focuses on basic defensive responsibilities and physical play while rarely initiating offense or creating scoring chances.

Defensive-mindedPhysicalPerimeter shooter

Shooting volume: 44
Playmaking: 21
Zone entries(est.): 41
Forechecking: 44
Physicality: 59
Defensive impact: 50
Puck management: 49
Speed: 53

Where he shoots from

Slot 9% · Mid-range 28% · Perimeter 63%(32 unblocked shots)

Strengths

Physicality in the 59th percentile shows he can hold his own in board battles
Balanced speed and puck management allow solid two-way play
Defensive impact at 50th percentile means he breaks up plays consistently

Watch-outs

Playmaking in just the 21st percentile, he rarely creates scoring opportunities
Shooting volume and rush chances are both underwhelming for offensive production
Perimeter-heavy shot pattern (62%) limits high-danger scoring chances

Similar style: Jake Bean, Scott Mayfield (NYI)

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 · 29 GP · goals above average

Season total -0.1 goals, or -0.00 per game.

Even strength offense: -0.7
Even strength defense: +0.2
Penalty kill: +0.2
Finishing: +1.2
Playmaking: -0.7
Penalties: -0.2

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	STL	29	2	1	3	+1	20	12:32	—	-0.00
2024-25	STL	29	0	3	3	-3	17	13:08	—	-0.04
2023-24	STL	39	1	6	7	0	28	16:48	—	-0.11
2022-23	STL	2	0	0	0	-1	3	15:10	—	-0.04

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

202937

At 26, defensemen typically produce 98% 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: 21.5 mph; 44th pct
20+ mph bursts: 17
Hardest shot: 95.2 mph; 80th pct
Distance: 54.1 mi
OZ time: 40.7%; 35th pct
DZ time: 40.7%