Sam
Malinski
D · COL · Two-way · Elite
- PAL
- 90
- WAR
- 1.7
- Value
- 95
- PTS
- 40
2025-26№ 30 / 325
Sam Malinski (Colorado Avalanche) stats and profile: offensive production, ice time, advanced stats, WAR and PAL rating.
Sam Malinski
HEIGHT : 180 cm · WEIGHT : 86 kg · SHOOTS : R
Born : July 26, 1998 · Lakeville, United States
Contract : $4,750,000 · 2026-27 → 2029-30 · Standard Contract (Extension) · UFANTC / M-NTC
NHL record
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | Colorado Avalanche | 17 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 4 |
| 2025-26 | Colorado Avalanche | 82 | 8 | 32 | 40 | 22 |
| 2024-25 | Colorado Avalanche | 76 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 16 |
| 2023-24 | Colorado Avalanche | 23 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 6 |
| NHL totals | 198 | 16 | 56 | 72 | 48 | |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | Colorado Avalanche | 11 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| 2024-25 | Colorado Avalanche | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Playoff totals | 16 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | |
Sam Malinski: our analysis
2025-26 season: 82 GP, 8 G, 32 A, 40 PTS, +43 +/-, 17:37 TOI. WAR 1.7 (30th of 325) · PAL 90, elite.
In 2025-26, Sam Malinski, 28, posts a PAL Rating of 90 out of 100 (elite), and his WAR of 1.7 ranks 30th among 325 regulars, in the top quarter.
His strengths: possession (98, among the best in the league), offense (91, among the best in the league) and defense (89, among the best in the league). On the other hand, discipline (35, below average) holds him back.
Breaking down his WAR (goals above average), his biggest contribution: EV defense (+3.1); his biggest cost: penalties (-1.2).
A clear step forward: his PAL went from 43 in 2024-25 to 90; his WAR went from 0.4 to 1.7.
Contract-wise, his Value score of 95 (exceptional value) weighs his output against what he costs: 50 is what that salary should buy.
Sam Malinski's story
Growing up in Lakeville, Minnesota, Sam Malinski finished high school at Lakeville South in 2017, serving as team captain and helping the program reach the state tournament. He moved through junior ranks with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders before finishing a season with the Bismarck Bobcats; a notable uptick in his offensive numbers led him to commit to Cornell for his college career.
His freshman campaign in Ithaca proved productive — Malinski collected 16 points in 25 games and became a regular on the blue line — but the COVID-19 outbreak curtailed that postseason and Cornell canceled the entire 2020–21 season. Because he had exhausted his junior eligibility, Malinski spent that year without organized games before returning to play in the fall of 2021.
When competition resumed, he emerged as one of Cornell's leaders and its principal offensive defenseman. The team ranked well early in the season, and despite a late stumble tied to the head coach's medical absence, Malinski kept producing. Elevated to co-captain as a senior, he finished third on the Big Red in scoring, earned second All‑American honours and helped Cornell upset Denver 2–0 in the regional semifinal before the season ended with a 2–1 loss to Boston University.
Colorado signed Malinski to a two‑year entry‑level deal on 30 March 2023, and he joined the AHL's Colorado Eagles on a professional tryout to finish that season. He made his NHL debut for the Avalanche on 13 November 2023 at Seattle, notched his first NHL point on 7 December 2023 and scored his first goal on 13 December 2023. After splitting time between the NHL and AHL, he established a steadier role with Colorado, played a full 76‑game season in 2024–25, appeared in the playoffs, and subsequently agreed to contract extensions in June 2025 and January 2026; he also recorded his first career playoff goal in the 2026 second round versus Minnesota.
Facts drawn from Wikipédia, told in our own words.
Advanced stats
- TOI/GP
- 17:39
- PP TOI/GP
- 0:08
- SH TOI/GP
- 0:53
- Pts/GP
- 0.41
- EV points
- 7
- Hits
- 16
- Blocks
- 26
- Takeaways
- 6
- Corsi % (SAT)
- 53.4 %
- Off. zone starts
- 23.8 %
Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)
2026-27 projection
Projected points
33between 19 and 46 (80% range)
- Goals
- 5
- Assists
- 28
- Games
- 75
So far: 7 pts in 17 games. The team has played 18 of 84 games. Projected pace: 0.45 pts per game (last season: 0.49).
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
Trending up
- Points per game: 0.43 in 23-24, 0.49 in 25-26
- PAL Rating: 43 → 90
Outlook, age included
↑ Trending upAge 28: 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 74 %
89
High-end
- SK
- Skating
- 91
- Confidence 67 %
- ST
- Strength
- 85
- Confidence 78 %
- EN
- Endurance
- 67
- Confidence 75 %
- DU
- Durability
- 73
- Confidence 67 %
- CK
- Checking
- 71
- Confidence 78 %
- FG
- Fighting
- 68
- Confidence 53 %
- DI
- Discipline
- 77
- Confidence 78 %
- FO
- Faceoffs
- —
- PA
- Passing
- 84
- Confidence 74 %
- SC
- Scoring
- 80
- Confidence 74 %
- DF
- Defense
- 84
- Confidence 70 %
- PS
- Penalty shot
- 76
- Confidence 0 %
- EX
- Experience
- 66
- Confidence 100 %
Why these ratings?Hide details
SK — Skating91
- Top speed (35 %)36.3 · 86
- Bursts > 20 mph /60 (30 %)4.29 · 92
- Distance /60 (20 %)14.7 · 85
- Speed consistency (15 %)35.5 · 87
ST — Strength85
- Contact absorbed /60 (50 %)8.217 · 97
- Body mass (50 %)-0.793 · 61
EN — Endurance67
- Ice time per game (45 %)17.3 · 65
- Total ice time (20 %)1,423 · 77
- Shift length (15 %)47 · 74
- Lowest recent ice time per game (15 %)15 · 62
- Special-teams time per game (5 %)1.216 · 52
DU — Durability73
- Share of games played (100 %)0.804 · 73
CK — Checking71
- Hits /60 (70 %)2.519 · 70
- Lowest seasonal rate (20 %)2.22 · 72
- Season volume (10 %)3.85 · 73
FG — Fighting68
- Fights per 82 games (100 %)0.73 · 68
DI — Discipline77
- Net penalty value /60 (50 %)-0.035 · 77
- Penalties taken /60 (30 %)0.49 · 81
- Penalties drawn /60 (20 %)0.285 · 64
PA — Passing84
- Primary assists /60 (40 %)0.583 · 86
- Secondary assists /60 (20 %)0.481 · 80
- Offensive creation (RAPM) (20 %)0.047 · 80
- Power-play points /60 (10 %)4.167 · 76
- Assist consistency (10 %)0.204 · 72
SC — Scoring80
- Goals /60 (25 %)0.301 · 82
- Individual xG /60 (20 %)0.247 · 80
- Finishing (goals − xG per shot) (20 %)0.391 · 80
- High-danger chances /60 (15 %)0.051 · 60
- xG per shot (10 %)0.031 · 51
- Shot attempts /60 (10 %)15 · 91
DF — Defense84
- RAPM defense /60 (35 %)0.08 · 81
- Relative xG against (20 %)-0.175 · 86
- On-ice xG against /60 (15 %)2.342 · 93
- Penalty kill /60 (10 %)0.003 · 76
- Takeaways − giveaways /60 (10 %)-2.083 · 72
- Shot attempts against /60 (5 %)58.6 · 72
- Blocked shots /60 (5 %)4.467 · 76
PS — Penalty shot76
- Shootouts (60 %)32.7 · 76
- Penalty shots (40 %)26.7 · 76
EX — Experience66
- Career regular-season games (65 %)73
- Career playoff games (25 %)53
- NHL seasons (10 %)47
OV — Overall89
- DF · Defense (30 %)84
- PA · Passing (22 %)84
- SK · Skating (12 %)91
- SC · Scoring (12 %)80
- EN · Endurance (9 %)67
- ST · Strength (6 %)85
- DI · Discipline (5 %)77
- CK · Checking (4 %)71
| Season | OV | SK | SC | DF |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 89 | 91 | 80 | 84 |
| 2024-25 | 79 | 91 | 77 | 74 |
| 2023-24 | 78 | 87 | 82 | 73 |
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
1.7
wins above replacement
30 of 325
PAL Rating
90/ 100
Performance · Elite
23 of 250 at the position
Value Rating
95/ 100
Exceptional value
1.40 M$ · expected PAL 47
ProfileTwo-wayStrong at both ends
- Offense
- 87
- Defense
- 89
See full detailsHide details
- Offense
- 91
- Creation
- 63
- Shooting
- 82
- Possession
- 98
- Defense
- 89
- Discipline
- 35
- Power play
- 52
- Penalty kill
- 42
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 | COL | 1.7 | 90 | 95 | 1.40 M$ |
| 2024-25 | COL | 0.4 | 43 | 66 | 0.85 M$ |
| 2023-24 | COL | 0.4 | 65 | 80 | 0.85 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
88/ 100
Very good
better than 88% of defensemen, offense and defense combined
Offensive IQ
68/ 100
Average
passing, shots, puck
Defensive IQ
92/ 100
Elite
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, 26 of 225 defensemen.
See full detailsHide details
Offense
- Playmaking passes
- 99
- Shot selection
- 16
- Penalties drawn
- 19
- Puck management
- 98
Defense
- Takeaways
- 68
- Discipline
- 76
- Safe zone exits
- 97
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 | COL | 88 | 68 | 92 |
| 2024-25 | COL | 87 | 52 | 94 |
| 2023-24 | COL | 46 | 26 | 69 |
WAR, 2025-26
How it's calculated →Wins added to the team, compared with a replacement-level player called up from the AHL.
1.7
wins above replacement
0.3 to 3.1 — 90% interval
30 of 325 defensemen
+8.8 goals above replacement
Full leaderboard →See full detailsHide details
- EV offense
- +2.3
- EV defense
- +3.1
- Power play
- 0.0
- Penalty kill
- +0.0
- Shooting
- +1.6
- Penalties
- -1.2
- Average → replacement
- +3.0
In goals.
| Season | Team | GP | WAR | 90% interval | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | COL | 82 | 1.7 | 0.3 to 3.1 | 30/325 |
| 2024-25 | COL | 72 | 0.4 | -0.3 to 1.1 | 118/314 |
| 2023-24 | COL | 23 | 0.4 | -0.1 to 1.2 | 101/316 |
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
- 138.5 km/h41st percentileleague avg. 139.7 km/h
- Top skating speed
- 34.8 km/h72nd percentileleague avg. 34.0 km/h
- Bursts over 20 mph, season
- 2695th percentileleague avg. 8
- Offensive zone time
- 42.1 %58th percentileleague avg. 42.4 %
See full detailsHide details
- Total distance, season
- 70.9 km60th percentileleague avg. 56.1 km
- Distance, single-game high
- 5.01 km48th percentileleague avg. 4.98 km
- Offensive zone at 5v5
- 42.8 %63rd percentileleague avg. 42.8 %
- Neutral zone time
- 18.0 %45th percentileleague avg. 16.9 %
- Defensive zone time
- 39.9 %56th percentileleague avg. 40.8 %
Shooting
| Shots on goal | Goals | Shooting % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All | 2380th percentile | 049th percentile | 0.0 %27th percentile |
| High danger | 175th percentile | 084th percentile | 0.0 %60th percentile |
| Mid range | 366th percentile | 073rd percentile | 0.0 %50th percentile |
| Long range | 1792nd percentile | 077th percentile | 0.0 %67th 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
DET
NSH
CBJ
CHI
CGY
NJD
TBL
PHI
PIT
DAL
TOR
WPG
STL
LAKSam Malinski: frequently asked questions
How many goals does Sam Malinski have in 2026-27?
Sam Malinski has 0 goals and 7 points (7 assists) in 17 games in 2026-27.
How old is Sam Malinski?
Sam Malinski is 28 years old: he was born on July 27, 1998.
How tall is Sam Malinski, and how much does he weigh?
Sam Malinski is 5'11" (180 cm) and weighs 190 lb (86 kg).
Where is Sam Malinski from?
United States: Sam Malinski was born in Lakeville, Minnesota, United States.
What team does Sam Malinski play for?
Sam Malinski plays for the Colorado Avalanche in the NHL, at D, wearing number 70.
Is Sam Malinski injured?
No: Sam Malinski is not on the latest NHL injury report. This answer is updated throughout the season.
How good is Sam Malinski?
Sam Malinski produced 1.7 wins above replacement (WAR) in 2025-26, 30th of 325 players at his position in the NHL. His PAL rating is 90 out of 100: elite for his position.
How much does Sam Malinski make?
Sam Malinski earns $1.4M for the 2025-26 season. His Value Rating is 95 out of 100 (exceptional value): it measures the on-field return for that salary, compared with players at his position.
When does Sam Malinski's contract end?
Sam Malinski's contract runs through the 2029-30 season; he will then be an unrestricted free agent. It includes a NTC / M-NTC clause.
Is Sam Malinski overpaid?
No, he gives more than he costs. His Value rating is 95 out of 100 (exceptional value), where 50 is the output expected for his salary, compared with players at his position.
Is Sam Malinski a top-10 player at his position?
No: by WAR, he ranks 30th of 325 players at his position in the NHL in 2025-26. Our comparison tool puts him side by side with any other player.
Is Sam Malinski getting better?
Yes: his PAL rating went from 43 in 2024-25 to 90 in 2025-26 (out of 100, 50 = average player at his position).
How has Sam Malinski played lately?
Over his last 10 games, Sam Malinski has 6 points (0 goals, 6 assists).
What are Sam Malinski's career stats?
Over his NHL career, Sam Malinski has 198 games, 16 goals, 56 assists and 72 points. His best season: 2025-26, with 40 points in 82 games.
Is Sam Malinski better at home or on the road?
On the road: in 2026-27, he averages 0.30 points per game at home (3 in 10 games) and 0.57 on the road (4 in 7 games).
How does Sam Malinski perform in the playoffs?
In the playoffs, Sam Malinski has 16 games and 4 points in his career. His pace (0.25 points per game) is lower than his regular-season pace (0.36).
Which player is most similar to Sam Malinski?
Damon Severson: he is the player at his position whose PAL profile (the 0-to-100 dimensions) is closest to his in 2025-26.
Damon Severson's page →Is Sam Malinski a good fantasy pick?
Probably not, except in deep leagues: our projection has him at 33 points in 2026-27, or 0.44 points per game.
What is Sam Malinski's nationality?
Sam Malinski is American.
What awards has Sam Malinski won?
Named to the second All‑American team (with Cornell) ; All‑American for Cornell University.
Where did Sam Malinski play before turning pro?
High school hockey at Lakeville South High (graduated 2017); junior with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders then the Bismarck Bobcats; college hockey at Cornell University (senior captain).
How many points is Sam Malinski projected to score in 2026-27?
Our projection has him at 33 points in 75 games in 2026-27 (19 to 46 points, 80% interval), based on his recent seasons, age and role.
See also: his Colorado Avalanche teammates
Full roster →
NHL.com ↗ · Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)