Seattle Kraken · Right wing · Shoots R

Jacob Melanson

Age 23 · 6'0" · 207 lb · Born in Halifax, CAN

Cap hit

$1.45M

1.4% 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

2026-27 regular season

Goals

0.0% shooting

Assists

0 primary

Points

0.00 per game

TOI/GP

9:31

PP 0:05 · PK 0:29

xGF%

50.0

5v5, -0.9 vs. last yr

Game Score

-0.35

per game, goals above average

Faceoff %

—

Plus/minus

Blocks 1 · Hits 2

Game log

Last 5 games · NHL API

Game	SOG	HIT	BLK	TOI	PP	PK	FO	OZS%	GV	+/-	GS
Oct 1 @ CGY · W 6-1	1	2	1	9:31	0:05	0:29	—	0	0	0	-0.35
Apr 13 vs LAK · L 5-3	2	7	0	7:41	0:00	0:00	—	67	0	0	-0.15
Apr 9 vs VGK · W 4-3	4	6	1	9:01	0:00	0:00	—	100	0	0	-0.13
Apr 2 vs UTA · L 6-2	0	8	0	9:49	0:00	0:00	—	50	0	-1	-0.52
Mar 24 @ FLA · OTL 5-4	0	0	1	5:49	0:00	0:00	—	100	1	-2	-0.16

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 · 334 min · percentile vs. NHL forwards

xGF%50.9%

63rd percentile

Relative xGF%+5.5

92nd percentile

HDCF%46.7%

34th percentile

CF%48.7%

44th percentile

Relative CF%+5.1

94th percentile

FF%49.8%

54th percentile

GF%33.3%

6th percentile

CF/6052.1

26th percentile

CA/6054.9

72nd percentile

ixG/600.84

39th percentile

Goals above expected-2.7

24th percentile

IPP50.0%

11th percentile

PDO94.1

3rd percentile

OZS%32.8%

9th 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 styleForechecking physical winger

Trait percentiles vs. NHL wingers · 2025-26

Melanson plays an aggressive, defensive-minded game relying on forechecking intensity and physical play to create value. He shoots frequently from dangerous areas but struggles to generate offense through passing or puck movement.

High-volume shooterPhysical presenceDefensive grinder

Shooting volume: 74
Playmaking: 12
Zone entries(est.): 46
Forechecking: 100
Physicality: 100
Defensive impact: 93
Puck management: 48
Speed: 65

Where he shoots from

Slot 57% · Mid-range 34% · Perimeter 9%(67 unblocked shots)

Strengths

Leads wingers in forechecking intensity, applying consistent pressure in all zones
Among top defensively impactful wingers despite modest ice time allocation
Takes high-volume shots with 74th percentile volume and strong slot positioning

Watch-outs

Playmaking ranks only 12th percentile, limiting his ability to set up teammates
Puck management at 48th percentile suggests difficulty maintaining possession under pressure
Rush chance conversion lags at 46th percentile despite aggressive offensive approach

Similar style: Pavol Regenda, Kiefer Sherwood (SJS)

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 · 36 GP · goals above average

Season total -3.1 goals, or -0.09 per game.

Even strength offense: -0.2
Even strength defense: +0.3
Finishing: -2.7
Playmaking: -1.5
Penalties: +0.9

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	SEA	1	0	0	0	0	1	9:31	—	-0.35
2025-26	SEA	36	2	3	5	-9	33	9:22	—	-0.09
2024-25	SEA	1	0	0	0	0	0	9:53	—	+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

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: 22.2 mph; 48th pct
20+ mph bursts: 70
Hardest shot: 78.7 mph; 16th pct
Distance: 57.9 mi
OZ time: 39.5%; 16th pct
DZ time: 41.1%