PuckSleuthCap hit
$4.75M
4.6% of $104M cap
Term
4 yrs
Through 2029-30, then UFA
Clause
None
Surplus value
+$411K
vs. $5.161M 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
14:27
PP 0:05 · PK 0:45
xGF%
73.7
5v5, +12.2 vs. last yr
Game Score
+0.01
per game, goals above average
Faceoff %
—
Plus/minus
+1
Blocks 3 · Hits 0
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 30 vs LAK · W 8-4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 14:27 | 0:05 | 0:45 | — | 100 | 0 | 1 | +1 | +0.01 |
| May 26 @ VGK · L 2-1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 14:16 | 0:00 | 0:00 | — | 25 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -0.12 |
| May 24 @ VGK · L 5-3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 12:57 | 0:00 | 0:00 | — | 33 | 3 | 0 | -1 | -0.07 |
| May 22 vs VGK · L 3-1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 20:40 | 1:42 | 0:32 | — | 50 | 0 | 0 | -2 | -0.12 |
| May 20 vs VGK · L 4-2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 20:31 | 0:26 | 0:30 | — | 60 | 0 | 0 | -1 | +0.05 |
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 · 1,311 min · percentile vs. NHL defensemen
99th percentile
91st percentile
94th percentile
97th percentile
86th percentile
98th percentile
99th percentile
100th percentile
88th percentile
78th percentile
73rd percentile
96th percentile
91st percentile
65th 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 puck-moving defenseman
Trait percentiles vs. NHL defensemen · 2025-26
Malinski is a high-volume shooter with elite playmaking and speed who drives offense through transitions and smart passes. He's most comfortable creating from distance and generates strong possession numbers, though he plays a lighter physical game and isn't a heavy forechecking presence.
- Shooting volume
- 97
- Playmaking
- 94
- Zone entries(est.)
- 80
- Forechecking
- 59
- Physicality
- 34
- Defensive impact
- 89
- Puck management
- 54
- Speed
- 93
Where he shoots from
Slot 5% · Mid-range 28% · Perimeter 67%(252 unblocked shots)
Strengths
- Elite shooting volume at 97th percentile, averaging 3+ shots per game
- Top-tier playmaking ability at 94th percentile, creating offense consistently
- Exceptional speed and transition game at 93rd percentile for controlling pace
Watch-outs
- Lighter physical approach at 34th percentile limits board play impact
- Solid but unremarkable puck management at 54th percentile in high-danger moments
Similar style: Jackson LaCombe (ANA), Noah Hanifin (VGK)
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 · 82 GP · goals above average
Season total +9.9 goals, or +0.12 per game.
- Even strength offense
- +3.2
- Even strength defense
- +2.1
- Power play
- -0.3
- Penalty kill
- +0.3
- Finishing
- +1.3
- Playmaking
- +4.7
- 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 | COL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +1 | 2 | 14:27 | — | +0.01 |
| 2025-26 | COL | 82 | 8 | 32 | 40 | +43 | 164 | 17:37 | — | +0.12 |
| 2024-25 | COL | 76 | 5 | 10 | 15 | +8 | 115 | 15:57 | — | +0.01 |
| 2023-24 | COL | 23 | 3 | 7 | 10 | +3 | 31 | 14:14 | — | +0.05 |
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 28, defensemen typically produce 95% of their peak (age 24). His contract runs through age 31, when the typical level is 86%.
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
2026-27, as of Oct 2
- Top speed
- 20.2 mph
- 71st pct
- 20+ mph bursts
- 1
- Hardest shot
- 80.7 mph
- 62nd pct
- Distance
- 2.1 mi
- OZ time
- 34.8%
- 3rd pct
- DZ time
- 45.1%