PuckSleuth
8

Buffalo Sabres · Defense · Shoots L

Olen Zellweger

Age 23 · 5'10" · 193 lb · Born in Calgary, CAN

Cap hit

$3.1M

3.0% of $104M cap

Term

3 yrs

Through 2028-29, then RFA

Clause

None

Surplus value

—

arrives with the trade tools

Contract details from our records; public announcement not yet matched

2025-26 regular season

GP

76

Goals

7

5.9% shooting

Assists

15

7 primary

Points

22

0.29 per game

TOI/GP

16:59

PP 0:46 · PK 0:53

xGF%

51.5

5v5, +4.4 vs. last yr

Game Score

-0.02

per game, goals above average

Faceoff %

—

Plus/minus

+4

Blocks 85 · Hits 33

Game log

Last 5 games · NHL API

GameGASOGHITBLKTOIPPPKFOOZS%GVTK+/-GS
May 14
vs VGK · L 5-1
0020013:280:000:34—75000+0.15
May 12
@ VGK · OTL 3-2
1010016:330:000:58—100100+0.75
May 10
vs VGK · W 4-3
0100311:520:001:28—5000+2-0.00
Apr 7
vs NSH · L 5-0
001108:580:040:00—50000-0.18
Apr 4
vs CGY · L 5-3
0010410:520:000:44—50000-0.08

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 · 1,092 min · percentile vs. NHL defensemen

xGF%51.5%

67th percentile

Relative xGF%+1.9

70th percentile

HDCF%51.6%

62nd percentile

CF%53.2%

82nd percentile

Relative CF%+1.6

72nd percentile

FF%53.2%

83rd percentile

GF%51.4%

61st percentile

CF/6069.7

96th percentile

CA/6061.4

22nd percentile

ixG/600.47

93rd percentile

Goals above expected-1.5

17th percentile

IPP30.4%

36th percentile

PDO100.2

53rd percentile

OZS%52.0%

73rd 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 styleOffensive two-way defenseman

Trait percentiles vs. NHL defensemen · 2025-26

Zellweger is a high-volume shooter who creates chances with elite speed and excellent puck management. He plays a more finesse-based game, preferring to rush the puck forward rather than engage physically in the dirty areas.

Elite shot volumeSpeed and skillPuck mover
Shooting volume
93
Playmaking
50
Zone entries(est.)
59
Forechecking
34
Physicality
29
Defensive impact
66
Puck management
64
Speed
90

Where he shoots from

Slot 14% · Mid-range 43% · Perimeter 43%(191 unblocked shots)

Strengths

  • Elite 93rd percentile shooting volume from all distances
  • 93rd percentile speed helps him transition play and join the rush
  • 66th percentile defensive impact shows solid all-around responsibility

Watch-outs

  • Just 34th percentile forechecking effort limits his aggressive forecheck game
  • 29th percentile physicality means he avoids contact and board play

Similar style: Noah Hanifin (VGK), Brock Faber (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 · 76 GP · goals above average

Season total -1.6 goals, or -0.02 per game.

Even strength offense
+1.4
Even strength defense
-0.7
Power play
-0.2
Penalty kill
+0.5
Finishing
-1.4
Playmaking
-0.8
Penalties
-0.4

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
2025-26ANA7671522+411916:59—-0.02
2024-25ANA6271320+113018:58—-0.03
2023-24ANA26279-63419:17—-0.03

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

How players at his position age, and where his contract falls on that curve, arrives with the trade tools.

Skating · NHL EDGE

2025-26, as of Oct 2

Top speed
22.5 mph
82nd pct
20+ mph bursts
170
Hardest shot
90.0 mph
47th pct
Distance
206.0 mi
OZ time
44.1%
84th pct
DZ time
37.8%