Sam
Steel
C · DAL · Defensive · Around average
- PAL
- 55
- WAR
- 1.1
- Value
- 57
- PTS
- 33
2025-26№ 152 / 615
Sam Steel (Dallas Stars) stats and profile: offensive production, ice time, advanced stats, WAR and PAL rating.
Sam Steel
#18CPlays: Centre and winger · 26% of faceoffs
Dallas Stars
HEIGHT : 183 cm · WEIGHT : 84 kg · SHOOTS : L
Born : February 2, 1998 · Ardrossan, Canada
Drafted : 2016 · ANA · round 1, pick #30
Contract : $2,100,000 · 2025-26 → 2026-27 · Standard Contract (Extension) · UFA
NHL record
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | Dallas Stars | 14 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 |
| 2025-26 | Dallas Stars | 73 | 12 | 21 | 33 | 24 |
| 2024-25 | Dallas Stars | 79 | 6 | 19 | 25 | 31 |
| 2023-24 | Dallas Stars | 77 | 9 | 15 | 24 | 29 |
| 2022-23 | Minnesota Wild | 65 | 10 | 18 | 28 | 18 |
| 2021-22 | Anaheim Ducks | 68 | 6 | 14 | 20 | 16 |
| 2020-21 | Anaheim Ducks | 42 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 8 |
| 2019-20 | Anaheim Ducks | 65 | 6 | 16 | 22 | 20 |
| 2018-19 | Anaheim Ducks | 22 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 8 |
| NHL totals | 505 | 62 | 116 | 178 | 162 | |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | Dallas Stars | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2024-25 | Dallas Stars | 18 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 18 |
| 2023-24 | Dallas Stars | 19 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 2 |
| 2022-23 | Minnesota Wild | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Playoff totals | 48 | 3 | 11 | 14 | 24 | |
Sam Steel: our analysis
2025-26 season: 73 GP, 12 G, 21 A, 33 PTS, +3 +/-, 16:04 TOI. WAR 1.1 (152nd of 615) · PAL 55, around average.
In 2025-26, Sam Steel, 28, posts a PAL Rating of 55 out of 100 (around average), and his WAR of 1.1 ranks 152nd among 615 regulars, in the top quarter.
His strengths: penalty kill (89, among the best in the league), discipline (79, well above average) and defense (71, above average). On the other hand, creation (27, below average) and offense (31, below average) hold him back.
Breaking down his WAR (goals above average), his biggest contribution: EV defense (+1.9); his biggest cost: EV offense (-0.8).
A season in line with 2024-25 (PAL of 54); his WAR went from 0.5 to 1.1.
Contract-wise, his Value score of 57 (good value) weighs his output against what he costs: 50 is what that salary should buy.
Sam Steel's story
Growing up in Sherwood Park, Alberta, Sam Steel developed through the local youth ranks and stood out early as a leader. After captaining the Sherwood Park AAA Flyers, he was taken second overall in the 2013 WHL Bantam Draft by the Regina Pats and signed with the club on August 28, 2013. He also had a brief stint with the Sherwood Park Crusaders of the AJHL before finishing the 2013–14 campaign with five games played for Regina.
Steel quickly became a top offensive contributor in junior. He posted 54 points in 61 games in one season, followed by a 70‑point year in 2015–16. In 2016–17 he led the WHL in scoring—amassing 131 points—and earned both the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy as WHL Player of the Year and the Bob Clarke Trophy as the league's leading scorer. Regina reached the WHL final that season but fell to the Seattle Thunderbirds. Named captain in his final Pats season, Steel captained the host team at the 2018 Memorial Cup; Regina reached the final but lost 0–3 to Acadie‑Bathurst, while Steel won tournament MVP (Stafford Smythe) and the Ed Chynoweth Trophy as leading scorer (2 goals, 11 assists).
Selected 30th overall by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, Steel signed a three‑year entry‑level contract on December 21, 2016. He made his NHL debut on October 3, 2018, scored his first NHL goal on October 21, 2018, and recorded his first career hat trick on March 26, 2019—becoming the youngest Duck to do so. Anaheim did not extend a qualifying offer at the end of his contract, and he became an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2022.
Steel signed a one‑year deal with the Minnesota Wild on August 30, 2022, and had a breakout 2022–23 season alongside Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello, finishing with 10 goals and 18 assists for 28 points in 65 games. Salary cap considerations led the Wild not to tender a qualifying offer on June 29, 2023. He signed with the Dallas Stars for one year at $850,000 on July 1, 2023, posted 24 points in 77 regular‑season games and added 5 points in the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs, then re‑signed a one‑year, $1.2 million pact on June 30, 2024.
On ice, Steel is defined by playmaking and offensive instincts; as a centre he has driven scoring chances throughout his junior and professional career, a quality reflected in his WHL awards and his upward trajectory in the NHL.
Facts drawn from Wikipédia, told in our own words.
Advanced stats
- TOI/GP
- 16:09
- PP TOI/GP
- 0:07
- SH TOI/GP
- 2:34
- Pts/GP
- 0.21
- EV points
- 3
- Hits
- 10
- Blocks
- 4
- Takeaways
- 0
- Corsi % (SAT)
- 47.0 %
- Off. zone starts
- 31.8 %
- Faceoffs
- 54.5 %
Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)
2026-27 projection
Projected points
28between 12 and 44 (80% range)
- Goals
- 10
- Assists
- 18
- Games
- 74
So far: 3 pts in 14 games. The team has played 17 of 84 games. Projected pace: 0.41 pts per game (last season: 0.45).
Three straight seasons of growth. Since 2018, of 97 players in that spot, 23 kept improving the next season; on average, their pace fell back to 90% of their best season.
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: 0.31 in 23-24, 0.45 in 25-26
- PAL Rating: 54 → 55
Outlook, age included
→ StableAge 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 81 %
77
Established NHL
- SK
- Skating
- 75
- Confidence 73 %
- ST
- Strength
- 71
- Confidence 84 %
- EN
- Endurance
- 75
- Confidence 80 %
- DU
- Durability
- 80
- Confidence 77 %
- CK
- Checking
- 75
- Confidence 84 %
- FG
- Fighting
- 69
- Confidence 64 %
- DI
- Discipline
- 81
- Confidence 84 %
- FO
- Faceoffs
- 76
- Confidence 79 %
- PA
- Passing
- 73
- Confidence 81 %
- SC
- Scoring
- 67
- Confidence 81 %
- DF
- Defense
- 82
- Confidence 77 %
- PS
- Penalty shot
- 60
- Confidence 14 %
- EX
- Experience
- 83
- Confidence 100 %
Why these ratings?Hide details
SK — Skating75
- Top speed (35 %)36.1 · 75
- Bursts > 20 mph /60 (30 %)5.573 · 74
- Distance /60 (20 %)16.4 · 77
- Speed consistency (15 %)35.5 · 76
ST — Strength71
- Contact absorbed /60 (50 %)4.681 · 80
- Body mass (50 %)-0.96 · 64
EN — Endurance75
- Ice time per game (45 %)14.8 · 75
- Total ice time (20 %)1,149 · 77
- Shift length (15 %)46.1 · 78
- Lowest recent ice time per game (15 %)13.1 · 71
- Special-teams time per game (5 %)2.315 · 74
DU — Durability80
- Share of games played (100 %)0.852 · 80
CK — Checking75
- Hits /60 (70 %)3.891 · 75
- Lowest seasonal rate (20 %)3.145 · 75
- Season volume (10 %)4.382 · 78
FG — Fighting69
- Fights per 82 games (100 %)0.743 · 69
DI — Discipline81
- Net penalty value /60 (50 %)0.041 · 82
- Penalties taken /60 (30 %)0.627 · 76
- Penalties drawn /60 (20 %)0.863 · 80
FO — Faceoffs76
- Faceoff % (85 %)50.6 · 78
- Faceoffs /60 (15 %)22 · 62
PA — Passing73
- Primary assists /60 (40 %)0.561 · 69
- Secondary assists /60 (20 %)0.534 · 78
- Offensive creation (RAPM) (20 %)-0.01 · 67
- Power-play points /60 (10 %)4.629 · 77
- Assist consistency (10 %)0.455 · 73
SC — Scoring67
- Goals /60 (25 %)0.62 · 64
- Individual xG /60 (20 %)0.631 · 62
- Finishing (goals − xG per shot) (20 %)-0.234 · 75
- High-danger chances /60 (15 %)1.235 · 74
- xG per shot (10 %)0.084 · 79
- Shot attempts /60 (10 %)9.659 · 56
DF — Defense82
- RAPM defense /60 (35 %)0.069 · 81
- Relative xG against (20 %)-0.102 · 78
- On-ice xG against /60 (15 %)2.503 · 81
- Penalty kill /60 (10 %)0.078 · 85
- Takeaways − giveaways /60 (10 %)-1.209 · 79
- Shot attempts against /60 (5 %)54.7 · 90
- Blocked shots /60 (5 %)1.92 · 61
PS — Penalty shot60
- Shootouts (60 %)32 · 65
- Penalty shots (40 %)25.4 · 57
EX — Experience83
- Career regular-season games (65 %)87
- Career playoff games (25 %)73
- NHL seasons (10 %)75
OV — Overall77
- SC · Scoring (20 %)67
- PA · Passing (20 %)73
- DF · Defense (20 %)82
- SK · Skating (12 %)75
- FO · Faceoffs (10 %)76
- EN · Endurance (8 %)75
- DI · Discipline (5 %)81
- ST · Strength (3 %)71
- CK · Checking (2 %)75
| Season | OV | SK | SC | DF |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 77 | 75 | 67 | 82 |
| 2024-25 | 75 | 79 | 59 | 84 |
| 2023-24 | 69 | 78 | 63 | 79 |
| 2022-23 | 69 | 79 | 69 | 68 |
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
1.1
wins above replacement
152 of 615
PAL Rating
55/ 100
Performance · Around average
199 of 476 at the position
Value Rating
57/ 100
Good value
2.10 M$ · expected PAL 49
ProfileDefensiveValue comes mostly from defense
- Offense
- 34
- Defense
- 76
See full detailsHide details
- Offense
- 31
- Creation
- 27
- Shooting
- 50
- Possession
- 48
- Defense
- 71
- Discipline
- 79
- Power play
- 50
- Penalty kill
- 89
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 | DAL | 1.1 | 55 | 57 | 2.10 M$ |
| 2024-25 | DAL | 0.5 | 54 | 65 | 1.20 M$ |
| 2023-24 | DAL | 0.4 | 47 | 62 | 0.85 M$ |
| 2022-23 | MIN | 0.4 | 19 | 32 | 0.83 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
68/ 100
Average
better than 68% of forwards, offense and defense combined
Offensive IQ
88/ 100
Very good
passing, shots, puck
Defensive IQ
29/ 100
Below average
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, 134 of 424 forwards.
See full detailsHide details
Offense
- Playmaking passes
- 42
- Shot selection
- 90
- Penalties drawn
- 76
- Puck management
- 40
Defense
- Takeaways
- 46
- Discipline
- 40
- Safe zone exits
- 21
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 | DAL | 68 | 88 | 29 |
| 2024-25 | DAL | 37 | 53 | 32 |
| 2023-24 | DAL | 18 | 20 | 31 |
| 2022-23 | MIN | 28 | 23 | 38 |
WAR, 2025-26
How it's calculated →Wins added to the team, compared with a replacement-level player called up from the AHL.
1.1
wins above replacement
0.1 to 2.2 — 90% interval
152 of 615 forwards
+5.7 goals above replacement
Full leaderboard →See full detailsHide details
- EV offense
- -0.8
- EV defense
- +1.9
- Power play
- -0.1
- Penalty kill
- +0.3
- Shooting
- +0.3
- Penalties
- +1.2
- Average → replacement
- +3.0
In goals.
| Season | Team | GP | WAR | 90% interval | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | DAL | 73 | 1.1 | 0.1 to 2.2 | 152/615 |
| 2024-25 | DAL | 75 | 0.5 | -0.5 to 1.6 | 223/596 |
| 2023-24 | DAL | 77 | 0.4 | -0.4 to 1.3 | 232/608 |
| 2022-23 | MIN | 65 | 0.4 | -0.5 to 1.6 | 224/617 |
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
- 122.9 km/h16th percentileleague avg. 130.1 km/h
- Top skating speed
- 34.0 km/h20th percentileleague avg. 35.2 km/h
- Bursts over 20 mph, season
- 1646th percentileleague avg. 21
- Offensive zone time
- 40.4 %31st percentileleague avg. 43.1 %
See full detailsHide details
- Total distance, season
- 59.3 km50th percentileleague avg. 52.2 km
- Distance, single-game high
- 5.22 km75th percentileleague avg. 4.52 km
- Offensive zone at 5v5
- 41.1 %51st percentileleague avg. 42.4 %
- Neutral zone time
- 17.7 %34th percentileleague avg. 16.8 %
- Defensive zone time
- 41.8 %27th percentileleague avg. 40.1 %
Shooting
| Shots on goal | Goals | Shooting % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All | 1437th percentile | 139th percentile | 7.1 %17th percentile |
| High danger | 327th percentile | 034th percentile | 0.0 %10th percentile |
| Mid range | 656th percentile | 054th percentile | 0.0 %32nd percentile |
| Long range | 153rd percentile | 199th percentile | 100.0 %100th 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
SJS
WSH
CBJ
MTL
WPG
BOS
CHI
COL
PIT
BUF
NSH
STLSam Steel: frequently asked questions
How many goals does Sam Steel have in 2026-27?
Sam Steel has 1 goal and 3 points (2 assists) in 14 games in 2026-27.
How old is Sam Steel?
Sam Steel is 28 years old: he was born on February 3, 1998.
How tall is Sam Steel, and how much does he weigh?
Sam Steel is 6'0" (183 cm) and weighs 185 lb (84 kg).
Where is Sam Steel from?
Canada: Sam Steel was born in Ardrossan, Alberta, Canada.
What team does Sam Steel play for?
Sam Steel plays for the Dallas Stars in the NHL, at C, wearing number 18.
Is Sam Steel injured?
No: Sam Steel is not on the latest NHL injury report. This answer is updated throughout the season.
How good is Sam Steel?
Sam Steel produced 1.1 wins above replacement (WAR) in 2025-26, 152nd of 615 players at his position in the NHL. His PAL rating is 55 out of 100: around average for his position.
How much does Sam Steel make?
Sam Steel earns $2.1M for the 2025-26 season. His Value Rating is 57 out of 100 (good value): it measures the on-field return for that salary, compared with players at his position.
When does Sam Steel's contract end?
Sam Steel's contract runs through the 2026-27 season; he will then be an unrestricted free agent.
Is Sam Steel overpaid?
No, he gives more than he costs. His Value rating is 57 out of 100 (good value), where 50 is the output expected for his salary, compared with players at his position.
Is Sam Steel a top-10 player at his position?
No: by WAR, he ranks 152nd 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 Sam Steel getting better?
He is holding steady: his PAL rating went from 54 in 2024-25 to 55 in 2025-26 (out of 100, 50 = average player at his position).
How has Sam Steel played lately?
Over his last 10 games, Sam Steel has 1 point (0 goals, 1 assist).
What are Sam Steel's career stats?
Over his NHL career, Sam Steel has 505 games, 62 goals, 116 assists and 178 points. His best season: 2025-26, with 33 points in 73 games.
Where was Sam Steel drafted?
Sam Steel was drafted 30th overall (round 1) by Anaheim Ducks in 2016.
Is Sam Steel better at home or on the road?
On the road: in 2026-27, he averages 0.13 points per game at home (1 in 8 games) and 0.33 on the road (2 in 6 games).
How does Sam Steel perform in the playoffs?
In the playoffs, Sam Steel has 48 games and 14 points in his career. His pace (0.29 points per game) is similar to his regular-season pace (0.35).
Which player is most similar to Sam Steel?
Ben Meyers: he is the player at his position whose PAL profile (the 0-to-100 dimensions) is closest to his in 2025-26.
Ben Meyers's page →Is Sam Steel a good fantasy pick?
Probably not, except in deep leagues: our projection has him at 28 points in 2026-27, or 0.38 points per game.
Does Sam Steel have siblings?
Yes: his older brother Patrick (played hockey for the Canmore Eagles (AJHL); died from an undetected heart problem).
What is Sam Steel's nationality?
Sam Steel is Canadian. Internationally: Canada — gold medal at the Ivan Hlinka Tournament (2015); gold medal at the IIHF World U20 Championship (2018).
What awards has Sam Steel won?
Four Broncos Memorial Trophy (WHL Player of the Year) — 2016–17 season ; Bob Clarke Trophy (WHL leading scorer) — 2016–17 season ; Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy (Memorial Cup tournament MVP) — 2018 ; Ed Chynoweth Trophy (Memorial Cup leading scorer) — 2018.
How many championships has Sam Steel won?
2: Gold medal with Canada's junior team at the Ivan Hlinka Tournament — 2015; Gold medal with Team Canada at the IIHF World U20 Championship — 2018.
Where did Sam Steel play before turning pro?
Sherwood Park AAA Flyers (youth); Sherwood Park Crusaders (AJHL); Regina Pats (WHL), signed August 28, 2013, played with the Pats from 2013 to 2018.
How many points is Sam Steel projected to score in 2026-27?
Our projection has him at 28 points in 74 games in 2026-27 (12 to 44 points, 80% interval), based on his recent seasons, age and role.
See also: his Dallas Stars teammates
Full roster →
NHL.com ↗ · Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)