Zach Metsa — Buffalo Sabres

Buffalo Sabres › Zach Metsa

Zach Metsa

D · #73 · BUF · 27

Average career stats over an 84-game season

+31

+/−

PIM

10:58

TOI/GP

0:02

PP TOI/GP

0:18

SH TOI/GP

Regular seasonPlayoffsSeasonCareer to dateRawRegressed

Season	Team	Type	GP	Box score					Net goals per 84 games											Elo	Playoffs	On-ice context						Contract
Season	Team	Type	GP	G	A	P	+/−	PIM	EV off	EV def	PP	PK	Fin	Play	Supp	Pen	FO	SO	Overall	Elo	Playoffs	Comp	Mates	Top linemates				Cap hit	% of cap	NG/84 per $M
2025-26			43	2	4	6	+16	8	+0.010:37	-0.2	-0.30:02	+0.10:18	+1.6	+0.3	+1.0	+1.2	+0.0	+0.0	+3.7	+42	+31.72 GP	-0.2	+1.6	Quinn 27%	Benson 25%	McLeod 25%	Malenstyn 24%	$0.78M	0.8%	+4.74
2025-26			43	2	4	6	+16	8	+0.010:37	-0.0	-0.10:02	+0.00:18	+0.1	+0.3	+0.8	+0.4	-0.0	-0.0	+1.4	+42	+31.72 GP	-0.2	+1.6	Quinn 27%	Benson 25%	McLeod 25%	Malenstyn 24%	$0.78M	0.8%	+1.86
2025-26			43	2	4	6	+16	8	+0.010:37	-0.0	-0.00:02	+0.00:18	+0.1	+0.1	+0.6	+0.4	+0.0	-0.0	+1.1	1542	+31.72 GP	-0.2	+1.6	Quinn 27%	Benson 25%	McLeod 25%	Malenstyn 24%	$0.78M	0.8%	+1.44

Season	Team	GP	Box score					Net goals per 84 games
Season	Team	GP	G	A	P	+/−	PIM	EV off	EV def	PP	PK	Fin	Play	Supp	Pen	FO	SO	Overall
2025-26		2	1	0	1	-1	0	+0.1	-2.7	+0.2	+0.2	+32.4	-0.1	+0.5	+1.2	+0.0	+0.0	+31.7
2025-26		2	1	0	1	-1	0	+0.1	-2.7	+0.2	+0.2	+32.4	-0.1	+0.5	+1.2	+0.0	+0.0	+31.7

NHL Edge — tracking, 2021-22 on

Season	Shot mph	Speed mph	22+ /GP	20–22 /GP	18–20 /GP	Miles /60
2025-26			0.00	0.2	2.3	8.6

Over time

Career net goalsrunning total vs a league-average player

Games and opponents

Single-game net goalsshare of his 43 games by that night’s total

Best game +0.47 net goals · Mar 14, 2026 vs TOR (W 3–2 SO) · Game recap →

Vs competition quartilescareer at 5v5, opposing fives ranked by average net goals/84

Shots

Best finishes on videohis lowest-xG goals with a highlight clip (2018-19 on)

	xG	Date	Opp	Sit	Shot
1	0.046	May 16, 2026 Playoffs	at MTL	PP	Snap	Watch ▸
2	0.105	Feb 28, 2026	at TBL	EV	Wrist	Watch ▸
3	0.106	Jan 6, 2026	vs VAN	EV	Wrist	Watch ▸

2026-27 forecast

Projected GP

-0.2

Projected net goals

From the season simulation behind the projected standings: his per-84 value times the games he is expected to play.

Comparables at 26

The most similar players at the same age: level, trajectory, experience, ice time and style. Net goals per 84 then, and over their next three seasons.

Now: +1.9 (2025-26 and the season before, regressed)

Zachcomparables

Jordan Hendry 2010-11 CHI · 79% match
then +2.8→out 2 GP out
Mark Popovic 2009-10 ATL · 78% match
then +1.7→out out out
Sami Lepisto 2011-12 CHI · 78% match
then +1.2→out out out
Paul Postma 2015-16 WPG · 76% match
then +1.4→−0.9 −3.8 out
Mark Friedman 2022-23 PIT · 76% match
then +2.6→+0.3 5 GP out

They averaged −0.3 the next season; 0 of 5 were still in the NHL three seasons later. In backtests, comparables add information about how long a career lasts; for next season, the forecast above is the better guide.