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Vinnie

Hinostroza

C · COL · Limited · Very poor

PAL
0
WAR
-0.6
Value
1
PTS
8

2025-26№ 585 / 615

Vinnie Hinostroza (Colorado Avalanche) stats and profile: offensive production, ice time, advanced stats, WAR and PAL rating.

Vinnie Hinostroza

#18CPlays: Winger · 8% of faceoffsColorado Avalanche logoColorado Avalanche

HEIGHT : 178 cm · WEIGHT : 83 kg · SHOOTS : R

Born : April 2, 1994 · Chicago, United States

Drafted : 2012 · CHI · round 6, pick #169

Contract : $875,000 · 2026-27 → 2027-28 · Standard Contract · UFA

NHL record

Year Team GPGAPTSPIM
2025-26Florida Panthers1735816
2025-26Minnesota Wild48371015
2024-25Minnesota Wild255384
2024-25Nashville Predators130226
2023-24Pittsburgh Penguins141234
2022-23Buffalo Sabres2629116
2021-22Buffalo Sabres6213122524
2020-21Chicago Blackhawks1748128
2020-21Florida Panthers90000
2019-20Arizona Coyotes685172214
2018-19Arizona Coyotes7216233914
2017-18Chicago Blackhawks507182510
2016-17Chicago Blackhawks49681417
2015-16Chicago Blackhawks70006
NHL totals47765114179144

Playoffs

Year Team GPGAPTSPIM
2024-25Minnesota Wild10002
2019-20Arizona Coyotes70222
2016-17Chicago Blackhawks10000
Playoff totals90224

Vinnie Hinostroza: our analysis

2025-26 season: 17 GP, 3 G, 5 A, 8 PTS, -4 +/-, 12:44 TOI. WAR -0.6 (585th of 615) · PAL 0, very poor.

In 2025-26, Vinnie Hinostroza, 32, posts a PAL Rating of 0 out of 100 (very poor), and his WAR of -0.6 ranks 585th among 615 regulars, in the bottom quarter.

On the other hand, defense (1, among the weakest in the league) and possession (1, among the weakest in the league) hold him back.

Breaking down his WAR (goals above average), his biggest contribution: penalties (+0.5); his biggest cost: EV defense (-3.4).

A marked decline: his PAL was 18 in 2024-25, against 0 now; his WAR went from -0.0 to -0.6.

Contract-wise, his Value score of 1 (very poor return) weighs his output against what he costs: 50 is what that salary should buy.

Vinnie Hinostroza's story

Growing up near Chicago, Vinnie Hinostroza came up through local youth programs before moving into junior hockey in the Midwest. He skated for the Chicago Mission AAA and was selected in the USHL Futures Draft by the Waterloo Black Hawks, where he completed his high school studies and gained the exposure that led to NCAA interest.

Taken 169th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2012 draft, Hinostroza opted for college hockey at Notre Dame. He spent two standout seasons with the Fighting Irish, earning a place on the Hockey East All-Rookie Team in 2013–2014 and on the conference First All-Star Team in 2014–2015. Following his junior year he signed a three-year entry-level deal with Chicago on 21 March 2015, forgoing his remaining collegiate eligibility.

His professional path has alternated between the AHL and the NHL. Assigned initially to the Rockford IceHogs, he made his NHL debut on 17 October 2015 against Columbus. Hinostroza scored his first NHL goal on 19 November 2016 and added two assists in that comeback overtime victory. Over the next years he moved through several organizations: included in the trade to Arizona in July 2018, released to free agency in 2020, signed by Florida, traded back to Chicago in April 2021, then signed with Buffalo for 2021–22. Subsequent stops have included Pittsburgh, Nashville (with time in Milwaukee), a claim by Minnesota in February 2025, a return to Florida in March 2026 and, most recently, a two-year, two-way contract with Colorado announced 1 July 2026.

Across those stops Hinostroza put up his most substantial NHL totals in Buffalo, while often splitting seasons between parent clubs and their AHL affiliates. His résumé shows a player frequently used as a depth forward, capable of moving between leagues and stepping into different roles depending on team needs.

On the ice, Hinostroza brings a mix of offensive instinct and adaptability. Whether producing points in the AHL or filling supporting lines in the NHL, he has built a journeyman profile centered on versatility and the ability to slot into varied assignments.

Vinnie Hinostroza in action with the Sabres, October 2022
Buffalo Sabres at Seattle Kraken, 25 October 2022 — NHL game featuring Vinnie Hinostroza.Photo: Jenn G from Seattle, WA · CC BY-SA 2.0
Vinnie Hinostroza among Sabres players, October 2022
Sabres–Kraken game in Seattle, 25 October 2022 — Hinostroza pictured on the ice.Photo: Jenn G from Seattle, WA · CC BY-SA 2.0
Vinnie Hinostroza in Coyotes uniform, November 2019
Vinnie Hinostroza with the Phoenix Coyotes, 11 November 2019.Photo: Pens Through My Lens · CC BY-SA 4.0
Vinnie Hinostroza wearing Coyotes jersey, November 2019
Vinnie Hinostroza photographed with the Coyotes, 11 November 2019.Photo: Pens Through My Lens · CC BY-SA 4.0
Vinnie Hinostroza in game with Rockford IceHogs, November 2015
Hinostroza, Rockford IceHogs centre, during a home game against San Antonio, 25 November 2015.Photo: TheAHL · CC BY 2.0
Headshot of Vinnie Hinostroza in IceHogs uniform, October 2015
Vinnie Hinostroza of the Rockford IceHogs, dated 30 October 2015.Photo: TheAHL · CC BY 2.0

Facts drawn from Wikipédia, told in our own words.

Advanced stats

TOI/GP
10:56
PP TOI/GP
0:28
SH TOI/GP
0:00
Pts/GP
0.28
EV points
16
Hits
41
Blocks
27
Takeaways
19
Corsi % (SAT)
43.0 %
Off. zone starts
25.3 %
Faceoffs
46.8 %

Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)

2026-27 projection

Projected points

10between 0 and 20 (80% range)

Goals
3
Assists
6
Games
36

So far: 0 pts in 0 games. The team has played 18 of 84 games. Projected pace: 0.26 pts per game (last season: 0.28).

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

Slight decline

  • Points per game: 0.26 in 24-25, 0.28 in 25-26
  • PAL Rating: 18 → 0

Outlook, age included

↓ DecliningAge 32: the age when production usually declines

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 62 %

59

Replacement or prospect

SK
Skating
92
Confidence 73 %
ST
Strength
63
Confidence 67 %
EN
Endurance
63
Confidence 75 %
DU
Durability
57
Confidence 77 %
CK
Checking
72
Confidence 67 %
FG
Fighting
79
Confidence 47 %
DI
Discipline
77
Confidence 67 %
FO
Faceoffs
—
PA
Passing
69
Confidence 62 %
SC
Scoring
68
Confidence 62 %
DF
Defense
49
Confidence 58 %
PS
Penalty shot
85
Confidence 14 %
EX
Experience
76
Confidence 100 %
Why these ratings?

SK — Skating92

  • Top speed (35 %)37.2 · 89
  • Bursts > 20 mph /60 (30 %)12 · 91
  • Distance /60 (20 %)16.8 · 86
  • Speed consistency (15 %)36.5 · 89

ST — Strength63

  • Contact absorbed /60 (50 %)4.041 · 74
  • Body mass (50 %)-1.241 · 59

EN — Endurance63

  • Ice time per game (45 %)12.5 · 59
  • Total ice time (20 %)699 · 65
  • Shift length (15 %)47.3 · 80
  • Lowest recent ice time per game (15 %)11.5 · 62
  • Special-teams time per game (5 %)1.233 · 56

DU — Durability57

  • Share of games played (100 %)0.668 · 57

CK — Checking72

  • Hits /60 (70 %)3.967 · 75
  • Lowest seasonal rate (20 %)1.158 · 47
  • Season volume (10 %)3.738 · 68

FG — Fighting79

  • Fights per 82 games (100 %)0.925 · 79

DI — Discipline77

  • Net penalty value /60 (50 %)0.021 · 77
  • Penalties taken /60 (30 %)0.66 · 74
  • Penalties drawn /60 (20 %)0.787 · 77

PA — Passing69

  • Primary assists /60 (40 %)0.521 · 65
  • Secondary assists /60 (20 %)0.56 · 79
  • Offensive creation (RAPM) (20 %)-0.005 · 68
  • Power-play points /60 (10 %)4.429 · 74
  • Assist consistency (10 %)0.219 · 57

SC — Scoring68

  • Goals /60 (25 %)0.657 · 67
  • Individual xG /60 (20 %)0.725 · 71
  • Finishing (goals − xG per shot) (20 %)-0.398 · 71
  • High-danger chances /60 (15 %)1.111 · 68
  • xG per shot (10 %)0.08 · 65
  • Shot attempts /60 (10 %)12.2 · 76

DF — Defense49

  • RAPM defense /60 (35 %)-0.165 · 52
  • Relative xG against (20 %)0.341 · 55
  • On-ice xG against /60 (15 %)2.971 · 51
  • Penalty kill /60 (10 %)-0.024 · 76
  • Takeaways − giveaways /60 (10 %)-1.954 · 62
  • Shot attempts against /60 (5 %)62.5 · 51
  • Blocked shots /60 (5 %)2.454 · 73

PS — Penalty shot85

  • Shootouts (60 %)33.6 · 86
  • Penalty shots (40 %)26.7 · 76

EX — Experience76

  • Career regular-season games (65 %)87
  • Career playoff games (25 %)43
  • NHL seasons (10 %)84

OV — Overall59

  • SC · Scoring (20 %)68
  • PA · Passing (20 %)69
  • DF · Defense (20 %)49
  • SK · Skating (12 %)92
  • EN · Endurance (8 %)63
  • DI · Discipline (5 %)77
  • ST · Strength (3 %)63
  • CK · Checking (2 %)72
Season by season
SeasonOVSKSCDF
2025-2659926849
2024-2570887168
2022-2370836864

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.

ProfileLimitedBelow average at both ends

Offense
6
Defense
1
See full details
Offense
25
Creation
22
Shooting
20
Possession
1
Defense
1
Discipline
57
Power play
45
Penalty kill
25

From 0 to 100; 50 is the average player at the same position, adjusted for ice time.

Season by season
SeasonTeamWARPALValue
2025-26FLA-0.601
2024-25MIN-0.01835
2022-23BUF-0.21110

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

23/ 100

Below average
better than 23% of forwards, offense and defense combined

Offensive IQ

8/ 100

Low
passing, shots, puck

Defensive IQ

57/ 100

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, 325 of 424 forwards.

See full details

Offense

Playmaking passes
14
Shot selection
25
Penalties drawn
65
Puck management
7

Defense

Takeaways
96
Discipline
31
Safe zone exits
17

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 by season
SeasonTeamIQOff.Def.
2025-26FLA23857
2024-25MIN8530
2022-23BUF585265

Wins added to the team, compared with a replacement-level player called up from the AHL.

-0.6

wins above replacement

-1.1 to 0.1 — 90% interval

585 of 615 forwards

-3.3 goals above replacement

Full leaderboard →
See full details
EV offense
-0.8
EV defense
-3.4
Power play
+0.0
Penalty kill
0.0
Shooting
-1.6
Penalties
+0.5
Average → replacement
+1.8

In goals.

Season by season
SeasonTeamGPWARRank
2025-26FLA65-0.6585/615
2024-25MIN37-0.0382/596
2023-24PIT14-0.2510/608
2022-23BUF26-0.2493/617

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.

Season
Hardest shot
134.6 km/h41st percentileleague avg. 134.6 km/h
Top skating speed
38.0 km/h96th percentileleague avg. 35.7 km/h
Bursts over 20 mph, season
20496th percentileleague avg. 75
Offensive zone time
39.9 %19th percentileleague avg. 43.1 %
See full details
Total distance, season
198.9 km47th percentileleague avg. 198.8 km
Distance, single-game high
5.27 km66th percentileleague avg. 4.70 km
Offensive zone at 5v5
39.2 %11th percentileleague avg. 42.0 %
Neutral zone time
17.6 %33rd percentileleague avg. 16.8 %
Defensive zone time
42.5 %18th percentileleague avg. 40.1 %

Shooting

Shots on goalGoalsShooting %
All6545th percentile642nd percentile9.2 %13th percentile
High danger2141st percentile445th percentile19.1 %44th percentile
Mid range1438th percentile130th percentile7.1 %15th percentile
Long range966th percentile00th percentile0.0 %0th percentile

Shots on goal by zone

Neutral zone : 2 · 53th percentileOutside left : 4 · 54th percentileOutside right : 7 · 75th percentileLeft point : 3 · 61th percentileRight point : 4 · 73th percentileCenter point : 2 · 49th percentileLeft circle : 2 · 22th percentileRight circle : 7 · 51th percentileHigh slot : 5 · 41th percentileLeft of the net : 5 · 81th percentileRight of the net : 3 · 63th percentileLow slot : 18 · 41th percentileCrease : 3 · 48th percentileLeft corner : 0 · 0th percentileBehind the net : 0 · 0th percentileRight corner : 0 · 0th percentile24734227553183000
Beyond the red line : 0

2025-2026 regular season. Measured by puck and player tracking chips; the percentile ranks the player within the league.

Game log, 2025-26

🔥 3-game point streak

DateOpponentGAPTS+/-
Apr 15vsDetroit Red Wings logoDET101+2
Apr 13vsNew York Rangers logoNYR011+1
Apr 11@Toronto Maple Leafs logoTOR0110
Apr 9@Ottawa Senators logoOTT000-1
Apr 7@Montreal Canadiens logoMTL0000
Apr 5@Pittsburgh Penguins logoPIT011-2
Apr 2vsBoston Bruins logoBOS0000
Mar 31vsOttawa Senators logoOTT0000
Mar 29@New York Rangers logoNYR000-1
Mar 28@New York Islanders logoNYI000-1

Vinnie Hinostroza: frequently asked questions

How many goals does Vinnie Hinostroza have in 2025-26?

Vinnie Hinostroza has 6 goals and 18 points (12 assists) in 65 games in 2025-26.

How old is Vinnie Hinostroza?

Vinnie Hinostroza is 32 years old: he was born on April 3, 1994.

How tall is Vinnie Hinostroza, and how much does he weigh?

Vinnie Hinostroza is 5'10" (178 cm) and weighs 183 lb (83 kg).

Where is Vinnie Hinostroza from?

United States: Vinnie Hinostroza was born in Chicago, Illinois, United States.

What team does Vinnie Hinostroza play for?

Vinnie Hinostroza plays for the Colorado Avalanche in the NHL, at C, wearing number 18.

Is Vinnie Hinostroza injured?

No: Vinnie Hinostroza is not on the latest NHL injury report. This answer is updated throughout the season.

How good is Vinnie Hinostroza?

Vinnie Hinostroza produced -0.6 wins above replacement (WAR) in 2025-26, 585th of 615 players at his position in the NHL. His PAL rating is 0 out of 100: very poor for his position.

How much does Vinnie Hinostroza make?

Vinnie Hinostroza earns $775K for the 2025-26 season. His Value Rating is 1 out of 100 (very poor return): it measures the on-field return for that salary, compared with players at his position.

When does Vinnie Hinostroza's contract end?

Vinnie Hinostroza's contract runs through the 2027-28 season; he will then be an unrestricted free agent.

Is Vinnie Hinostroza overpaid?

Yes, his output falls short of what his salary should buy. His Value rating is 1 out of 100 (very poor return), where 50 is the output expected for his salary, compared with players at his position.

Is Vinnie Hinostroza a top-10 player at his position?

No: by WAR, he ranks 585th 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 Vinnie Hinostroza getting better?

No, he is slipping: his PAL rating went from 18 in 2024-25 to 0 in 2025-26 (out of 100, 50 = average player at his position).

How has Vinnie Hinostroza played lately?

Over his last 10 games, Vinnie Hinostroza has 4 points (1 goal, 3 assists).

What are Vinnie Hinostroza's career stats?

Over his NHL career, Vinnie Hinostroza has 477 games, 65 goals, 114 assists and 179 points. His best season: 2018-19, with 39 points in 72 games.

Where was Vinnie Hinostroza drafted?

Vinnie Hinostroza was drafted 169th overall (round 6) by Chicago Blackhawks in 2012.

Is Vinnie Hinostroza better at home or on the road?

At home: in 2025-26, he averages 0.33 points per game at home (11 in 33 games) and 0.22 on the road (7 in 32 games).

How does Vinnie Hinostroza perform in the playoffs?

In the playoffs, Vinnie Hinostroza has 9 games and 2 points in his career. His pace (0.22 points per game) is lower than his regular-season pace (0.38).

Which player is most similar to Vinnie Hinostroza?

Easton Cowan: he is the player at his position whose PAL profile (the 0-to-100 dimensions) is closest to his in 2025-26.

Easton Cowan's page →

Is Vinnie Hinostroza a good fantasy pick?

Probably not, except in deep leagues: our projection has him at 10 points in 2026-27, or 0.28 points per game.

What is Vinnie Hinostroza's nationality?

Vinnie Hinostroza is American.

What awards has Vinnie Hinostroza won?

Named to the 2013–14 Hockey East All-Rookie Team ; Named to the 2014–15 Hockey East First All-Star Team.

Where did Vinnie Hinostroza play before turning pro?

Chicago Mission AAA (U16 midget), Waterloo Black Hawks (selected 4th in the 2010 USHL Futures Draft), University of Notre Dame (Fighting Irish), collegiate seasons 2013–2015.

How many points is Vinnie Hinostroza projected to score in 2026-27?

Our projection has him at 10 points in 36 games in 2026-27 (0 to 20 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)