Cole
Smith
R · CHI · Defensive · Above average
- PAL
- 60
- WAR
- -0.3
- Value
- 75
- PTS
- 2
2025-26№ 535 / 615
Cole Smith (Chicago Blackhawks) stats and profile: offensive production, ice time, advanced stats, WAR and PAL rating.
Cole Smith
#22RPlays: Right wing · 2% of faceoffs
Chicago Blackhawks
HEIGHT : 191 cm · WEIGHT : 88 kg · SHOOTS : L
Born : October 27, 1995 · Brainerd, United States
Contract : $3,000,000 · 2026-27 → 2028-29 · Standard Contract · UFAM-NTC
NHL record
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | Chicago Blackhawks | 18 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 |
| 2025-26 | Vegas Golden Knights | 21 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 9 |
| 2025-26 | Nashville Predators | 42 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 31 |
| 2024-25 | Nashville Predators | 71 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 69 |
| 2023-24 | Nashville Predators | 80 | 9 | 14 | 23 | 63 |
| 2022-23 | Nashville Predators | 69 | 4 | 13 | 17 | 60 |
| 2021-22 | Nashville Predators | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020-21 | Nashville Predators | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| NHL totals | 310 | 26 | 41 | 67 | 240 | |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | Vegas Golden Knights | 22 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 24 |
| 2023-24 | Nashville Predators | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Playoff totals | 27 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 24 | |
Cole Smith: our analysis
2025-26 season: 21 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 2 PTS, 0 +/-, 11:38 TOI. WAR -0.3 (535th of 615) · PAL 60, above average.
In 2025-26, Cole Smith, 31, posts a PAL Rating of 60 out of 100 (above average), and his WAR of -0.3 ranks 535th among 615 regulars, in the bottom quarter.
His strengths: defense (95, among the best in the league), penalty kill (91, among the best in the league) and possession (72, above average). On the other hand, discipline (5, among the weakest in the league) and shooting (9, among the weakest in the league) hold him back.
Breaking down his WAR (goals above average), his biggest contribution: EV defense (+2.4); his biggest cost: finishing (-4.4).
An improvement on 2024-25, when his PAL was 57; his WAR, though, went from 0.3 to -0.3.
Contract-wise, his Value score of 75 (very good contract) weighs his output against what he costs: 50 is what that salary should buy.
Cole Smith's story
Growing up in Brainerd, Minnesota, Cole Smith learned the game amid a sporty household and by playing multiple high school sports; hockey sat alongside football and track in his athletic education, and he finished his high school hockey career among Brainerd’s top scorers. After graduation he was taken in the 10th round of the USHL Draft by the Sioux Falls Stampede but found his path through junior hockey in Canada rather than immediately in the USHL.
Smith landed with the Steinbach Pistons of the MJHL, where his play jumped from a solid rookie season to team-leading offence in year two, helping the Pistons to playoff success and attracting college recruiters. He committed to the University of North Dakota for 2016–17 and developed into a dependable forward over four seasons, moving from a limited role as a freshman to an assistant captain in his senior year and earning recognition as a defensive-minded contributor in the NCHC.
Turning pro on 19 March 2020, Smith signed a one-year deal with the Nashville Predators and began his pro career split between the ECHL’s Florida Everblades and AHL affiliates such as the Chicago Wolves and Milwaukee Admirals. He made his NHL debut on 14 January 2021 and gradually carved out NHL opportunities through frequent recalls, while producing consistent numbers at the AHL level. The 2022–23 campaign included a regular-season role with Nashville and his first NHL goal in January 2023; a concussion late that season sidelined him for a brief period.
Smith’s game is defined by work rate, physical engagement and adaptability in bottom-six roles. He offers pressure along the boards, willing net-front play and occasional scoring when given minutes. After being traded to the Vegas Golden Knights on 3 March 2026, he debuted for Vegas the following day, and on 1 July 2026 he signed a three-year contract with the Chicago Blackhawks.
Facts drawn from Wikipédia, told in our own words.
Advanced stats
- TOI/GP
- 13:31
- PP TOI/GP
- 0:02
- SH TOI/GP
- 2:02
- Pts/GP
- 0.17
- EV points
- 1
- Hits
- 40
- Blocks
- 1
- Takeaways
- 5
- Corsi % (SAT)
- 44.4 %
- Off. zone starts
- 17.1 %
- Faceoffs
- 0.0 %
Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)
2026-27 projection
Projected points
14between 3 and 25 (80% range)
- Goals
- 6
- Assists
- 7
- Games
- 74
So far: 3 pts in 18 games. The team has played 18 of 84 games. Projected pace: 0.19 pts per game (last season: 0.19).
The projection follows last season's pace. Tested on 2,265 player seasons (2022-23 to 2025-26): average miss of 9 points over 82 games; for players at 0.9 points per game and up, it ran 5 points high on average.
Trend
Stable
- Points per game: 0.29 in 23-24, 0.19 in 25-26
- PAL Rating: 57 → 60
Outlook, age included
→ StableAge 30: prime years
This is only a projection. It knows nothing about injuries, trades or role changes; one player in five finishes outside the range.
Player ratings, 2025-26
All ratings →Fourteen ratings from 0 to 100 drawn from data, never by hand: 75 = established NHL player, 95+ = elite.
OV · OverallConfidence 78 %
55
Replacement or prospect
- SK
- Skating
- 84
- Confidence 73 %
- ST
- Strength
- 87
- Confidence 82 %
- EN
- Endurance
- 66
- Confidence 80 %
- DU
- Durability
- 73
- Confidence 77 %
- CK
- Checking
- 87
- Confidence 82 %
- FG
- Fighting
- 91
- Confidence 64 %
- DI
- Discipline
- 62
- Confidence 82 %
- FO
- Faceoffs
- —
- PA
- Passing
- 47
- Confidence 78 %
- SC
- Scoring
- 45
- Confidence 78 %
- DF
- Defense
- 91
- Confidence 75 %
- PS
- Penalty shot
- 64
- Confidence 8 %
- EX
- Experience
- 74
- Confidence 100 %
Why these ratings?Hide details
SK — Skating84
- Top speed (35 %)36.9 · 86
- Bursts > 20 mph /60 (30 %)7.58 · 84
- Distance /60 (20 %)15.9 · 68
- Speed consistency (15 %)36.1 · 85
ST — Strength87
- Contact absorbed /60 (50 %)6.169 · 93
- Body mass (50 %)-0.18 · 75
EN — Endurance66
- Ice time per game (45 %)13.5 · 66
- Total ice time (20 %)818 · 68
- Shift length (15 %)42.3 · 59
- Lowest recent ice time per game (15 %)12.7 · 70
- Special-teams time per game (5 %)2.153 · 75
DU — Durability73
- Share of games played (100 %)0.804 · 73
CK — Checking87
- Hits /60 (70 %)10.4 · 87
- Lowest seasonal rate (20 %)8.856 · 87
- Season volume (10 %)5.159 · 87
FG — Fighting91
- Fights per 82 games (100 %)2.265 · 91
DI — Discipline62
- Net penalty value /60 (50 %)-0.02 · 63
- Penalties taken /60 (30 %)0.894 · 65
- Penalties drawn /60 (20 %)0.777 · 76
PA — Passing47
- Primary assists /60 (40 %)0.426 · 50
- Secondary assists /60 (20 %)0.276 · 48
- Offensive creation (RAPM) (20 %)-0.043 · 59
- Power-play points /60 (10 %)4.489 · 78
- Assist consistency (10 %)0.279 · 61
SC — Scoring45
- Goals /60 (25 %)0.596 · 55
- Individual xG /60 (20 %)0.676 · 56
- Finishing (goals − xG per shot) (20 %)-0.911 · 47
- High-danger chances /60 (15 %)0.964 · 55
- xG per shot (10 %)0.08 · 76
- Shot attempts /60 (10 %)11.3 · 58
DF — Defense91
- RAPM defense /60 (35 %)0.138 · 89
- Relative xG against (20 %)-0.231 · 88
- On-ice xG against /60 (15 %)2.423 · 86
- Penalty kill /60 (10 %)0.176 · 89
- Takeaways − giveaways /60 (10 %)-0.684 · 93
- Shot attempts against /60 (5 %)55.7 · 87
- Blocked shots /60 (5 %)2.394 · 77
PS — Penalty shot64
- Shootouts (60 %)32.7 · 76
- Penalty shots (40 %)25.4 · 57
EX — Experience74
- Career regular-season games (65 %)80
- Career playoff games (25 %)63
- NHL seasons (10 %)66
OV — Overall55
- SC · Scoring (28 %)45
- PA · Passing (22 %)47
- DF · Defense (18 %)91
- SK · Skating (12 %)84
- EN · Endurance (8 %)66
- DI · Discipline (5 %)62
- ST · Strength (4 %)87
- CK · Checking (3 %)87
| Season | OV | SK | SC | DF |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 55 | 84 | 45 | 91 |
| 2024-25 | 56 | 80 | 38 | 89 |
| 2023-24 | 69 | 81 | 58 | 88 |
| 2022-23 | 68 | 76 | 51 | 88 |
The bars show confidence (sample size), not player quality. — : not enough data, not a zero. Engine version 1.0.
WAR and PAL ratings, 2025-26
How we rate →PAL Rating scores performance from 0 to 100 against players at the same position (50 = average player), starting from the player's strength, offensive or defensive. Value Rating compares that performance with what the player costs: 50 means paid what the play is worth.
WAR
-0.3
wins above replacement
535 of 615
PAL Rating
60/ 100
Performance · Above average
177 of 476 at the position
Value Rating
75/ 100
Very good contract
1.00 M$ · expected PAL 37
ProfileDefensiveValue comes mostly from defense
- Offense
- 19
- Defense
- 96
See full detailsHide details
- Offense
- 9
- Creation
- 35
- Shooting
- 9
- Possession
- 72
- Defense
- 95
- Discipline
- 5
- Power play
- 33
- Penalty kill
- 91
From 0 to 100; 50 is the average player at the same position, adjusted for ice time.
| Season | Team | WAR | PAL | Value | Cap hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | VGK | -0.3 | 60 | 75 | 1.00 M$ |
| 2024-25 | NSH | 0.3 | 57 | 71 | 1.00 M$ |
| 2023-24 | NSH | -0.2 | 64 | 79 | 0.78 M$ |
| 2022-23 | NSH | -0.4 | 57 | 73 | 0.75 M$ |
Hockey IQ, 2025-26
Rankings and method →The quality of the player's decisions with and against the puck at 5-on-5, against regulars at the same position (50 = average). PAL measures output; IQ measures how the player plays.
Overall IQ
13/ 100
Low
better than 13% of forwards, offense and defense combined
Offensive IQ
23/ 100
Below average
passing, shots, puck
Defensive IQ
18/ 100
Low
takeaways, discipline, own zone
Overall IQ isn't an average of the two scores: it's the player's rank with offense and defense combined, 367 of 424 forwards.
See full detailsHide details
Offense
- Playmaking passes
- 2
- Shot selection
- 40
- Penalties drawn
- 32
- Puck management
- 88
Defense
- Takeaways
- 41
- Discipline
- 10
- Safe zone exits
- 75
Percentiles: 80 means better than 80% of regulars at the same position. Play without the puck (positioning, coverage) isn't measured: the NHL doesn't publish that data.
| Season | Team | IQ | Off. | Def. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | VGK | 13 | 23 | 18 |
| 2024-25 | NSH | 23 | 35 | 29 |
| 2023-24 | NSH | 53 | 78 | 29 |
| 2022-23 | NSH | 33 | 77 | 13 |
WAR, 2025-26
How it's calculated →Wins added to the team, compared with a replacement-level player called up from the AHL.
-0.3
wins above replacement
-0.9 to 0.3 — 90% interval
535 of 615 forwards
-1.5 goals above replacement
Full leaderboard →See full detailsHide details
- EV offense
- -0.9
- EV defense
- +2.4
- Power play
- 0.0
- Penalty kill
- +0.4
- Shooting
- -4.4
- Penalties
- -1.2
- Average → replacement
- +2.1
In goals.
| Season | Team | GP | WAR | 90% interval | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | VGK | 63 | -0.3 | -0.9 to 0.3 | 535/615 |
| 2024-25 | NSH | 67 | 0.3 | -0.4 to 1.0 | 278/596 |
| 2023-24 | NSH | 80 | -0.2 | -1.4 to 1.1 | 502/608 |
| 2022-23 | NSH | 69 | -0.4 | -0.9 to 0.2 | 553/617 |
Player tracking (NHL EDGE)
League EDGE leaderboards →Speed, shot power, distance covered, time by zone: measured by chips in the puck and shoulder pads. 90th percentile = better than 90% of players.
- Hardest shot
- 123.6 km/h19th percentileleague avg. 130.1 km/h
- Top skating speed
- 37.2 km/h94th percentileleague avg. 35.2 km/h
- Bursts over 20 mph, season
- 3278th percentileleague avg. 21
- Offensive zone time
- 35.8 %3rd percentileleague avg. 43.1 %
See full detailsHide details
- Total distance, season
- 62.1 km57th percentileleague avg. 52.2 km
- Distance, single-game high
- 3.91 km30th percentileleague avg. 4.52 km
- Offensive zone at 5v5
- 36.4 %2nd percentileleague avg. 42.4 %
- Neutral zone time
- 18.8 %84th percentileleague avg. 16.8 %
- Defensive zone time
- 45.4 %6th percentileleague avg. 40.1 %
Shooting
| Shots on goal | Goals | Shooting % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All | 2153rd percentile | 139th percentile | 4.8 %9th percentile |
| High danger | 1068th percentile | 034th percentile | 0.0 %10th percentile |
| Mid range | 550th percentile | 177th percentile | 20.0 %76th percentile |
| Long range | 153rd percentile | 092nd percentile | 0.0 %87th percentile |
Shots on goal by zone
2026-2027 regular season. Measured by puck and player tracking chips; the percentile ranks the player within the league.
Game log, 2026-27
CAR
TBL
FLA
COL
BOS
DET
LAK
MTL
DAL
WPG
PIT
NYI
STL
BUF
UTA
VGKCole Smith: frequently asked questions
How many goals does Cole Smith have in 2026-27?
Cole Smith has 1 goal and 3 points (2 assists) in 18 games in 2026-27.
How old is Cole Smith?
Cole Smith is 31 years old: he was born on October 28, 1995.
How tall is Cole Smith, and how much does he weigh?
Cole Smith is 6'3" (191 cm) and weighs 194 lb (88 kg).
Where is Cole Smith from?
United States: Cole Smith was born in Brainerd, Minnesota, United States.
What team does Cole Smith play for?
Cole Smith plays for the Chicago Blackhawks in the NHL, at R, wearing number 22.
Is Cole Smith injured?
No: Cole Smith is not on the latest NHL injury report. This answer is updated throughout the season.
How good is Cole Smith?
Cole Smith produced -0.3 wins above replacement (WAR) in 2025-26, 535th of 615 players at his position in the NHL. His PAL rating is 60 out of 100: above average for his position.
How much does Cole Smith make?
Cole Smith earns $1.0M for the 2025-26 season. His Value Rating is 75 out of 100 (very good contract): it measures the on-field return for that salary, compared with players at his position.
When does Cole Smith's contract end?
Cole Smith's contract runs through the 2028-29 season; he will then be an unrestricted free agent. It includes a M-NTC clause.
Is Cole Smith overpaid?
No, he gives more than he costs. His Value rating is 75 out of 100 (very good contract), where 50 is the output expected for his salary, compared with players at his position.
Is Cole Smith a top-10 player at his position?
No: by WAR, he ranks 535th of 615 players at his position in the NHL in 2025-26. Our comparison tool puts him side by side with any other player.
Is Cole Smith getting better?
Yes: his PAL rating went from 57 in 2024-25 to 60 in 2025-26 (out of 100, 50 = average player at his position).
How has Cole Smith played lately?
Over his last 10 games, Cole Smith has 1 point (0 goals, 1 assist).
What are Cole Smith's career stats?
Over his NHL career, Cole Smith has 310 games, 26 goals, 41 assists and 67 points. His best season: 2023-24, with 23 points in 80 games.
Is Cole Smith better at home or on the road?
At home: in 2026-27, he averages 0.22 points per game at home (2 in 9 games) and 0.11 on the road (1 in 9 games).
How does Cole Smith perform in the playoffs?
In the playoffs, Cole Smith has 27 games and 6 points in his career. His pace (0.22 points per game) is similar to his regular-season pace (0.22).
Which player is most similar to Cole Smith?
Yakov Trenin: he is the player at his position whose PAL profile (the 0-to-100 dimensions) is closest to his in 2025-26.
Yakov Trenin's page →Is Cole Smith a good fantasy pick?
Probably not, except in deep leagues: our projection has him at 14 points in 2026-27, or 0.19 points per game.
Does Cole Smith have siblings?
Yes: his younger sister Gabbie Smith (plays ice hockey for Bemidji State University (BSU)), his sister Allyson Smith (played soccer for Bemidji State University (BSU)).
Is Cole Smith related to anyone famous?
Yes: Tom Smith (father, played football at St. Cloud State University); Kris Smith (mother, ran track at Concordia College–Moorhead; inducted into the Concordia College Athletics Department Hall of Fame in 2009); Sandy Smith (uncle, played collegiate hockey and professionally for Eisbären Berlin in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga).
What is Cole Smith's nationality?
Cole Smith is American.
What awards has Cole Smith won?
Team Cliff 'Fido' Purpur Award (given for hard work and determination) ; American Hockey Coaches Association Division I All‑American Scholar ; MJHL Player of the Month (April).
How many championships has Cole Smith won?
1: NCHC regular-season title with the University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks.
Where did Cole Smith play before turning pro?
Brainerd High School (2011–2014); Steinbach Pistons (MJHL) (2014–2016); University of North Dakota (North Dakota Fighting Hawks) (2016–2020).
How many points is Cole Smith projected to score in 2026-27?
Our projection has him at 14 points in 74 games in 2026-27 (3 to 25 points, 80% interval), based on his recent seasons, age and role.
See also: his Chicago Blackhawks teammates
Full roster →
NHL.com ↗ · Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)