Zach Metsa
Buffalo Sabres · #73 · Defenseman · age 28 · 5'9" · 198 lb · shoots RBorn 🇺🇸 Delafield, Wisconsin · Undrafted
TWO-WAY DEFENSEMAN0.17 points/game — steady, no single skill dominates
2 points in 12 games — 132nd of 228 defensemen. The average defenseman has 4.2.
14HEAT · FORM, LAST 5 GAMEShotter than 56% of defensemen · average defenseman 15
100ENERGY · FRESHaverage defenseman 92 · last game 2 days ago
SCOUTING REPORT · AI, FROM THE NUMBERS
The player.
WHO HE IS · LONG TERM
The scouting report isn’t written yet — check back later.
RIGHT NOW · LAST 5 GAMES
The read on his form isn’t written yet — check back after his next game.
FORM OVER TIME · GAME BY GAME
Heat over time.
Cooling: 35 after the game against MIN, 14 now — still hotter than 56% of defensemen (average defenseman 15).
Now 14 · +1 over these 12 games
━● Heat after each game╍ average defenseman (15)┈ top 5% of defensemen (44)
LAST 5 GAMES
The last stretch.
1 point in 5 games — 1.2× his usual pace, and 0.6× what an average defenseman scores in 5 games.
| LAST 5 GAMES | HIM | HIS USUAL · PER 5 GAMES | AVERAGE DEFENSEMAN | VERDICT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goals | 0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | — |
| Assists | 1 | 0.8 | 1.3 | ▲ 1.2× his usual |
| Points | 1 | 0.8 | 1.6 | ▲ 1.2× his usual |
| Shots | 5 | 3 | 6 | ▲ 1.7× his usual |
| Shooting % | 0.0% | 0.0% | 6.3% | — |
| Plus/minus | −2 | −0.8 | +0.0 | −1 vs his usual |
| Ice time a game | 11:51 | 12:21 | 18:32 | ≈ 1.0× his usual |
| DATE | OPPONENT | RESULT | G | A | POINTS | SOG | +/- | TOI | HEAT AFTER |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 31 | @ LAK | W | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 10:22 | 14 |
| Oct 27 | @ SJS | W | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10:37 | 13 |
| Oct 21 | vs PHI | L | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | −1 | 10:43 | 12 |
| Oct 17 | @ MTL | L | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 14:57 | 12 |
| Oct 15 | @ TOR | W | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | −1 | 12:36 | 12 |
THIS SEASON · 2026–27 · AMONG 228 DEFENSEMEN
Where he stands.
The bar runs from zero to the league's best defenseman; the white tick is the average defenseman.
Points132nd of 228 defensemen2leader 
Bouchard 26
Bouchard 26Goals114th of 228 defensemen0leader Bouchard 8
Bouchard 8Assists107th of 228 defensemen2leader Bouchard 18
Bouchard 18Shots169th of 228 defensemen7leader 
Schaefer 52
Schaefer 52Power-play points63rd of 228 defensemen0leader 
Jones 11
Jones 11Plus/minus145th of 228 defensemen−2leader Bouchard +22
Bouchard +22Ice time a game216th of 228 defensemen12:21leader 
Werenski 28:50
Werenski 28:50PERFORMANCE RADAR · PER GAME, PERCENTILE VS DEFENSEMEN
Shape of his game.
No category in the top quarter yet. Below the middle: power-play points (0th), goals (0th).
■ Metsa this season╍ the average defenseman┈ top 5% of defensemen
CAREER · NHL REGULAR SEASON · SOURCE: NHL.COM
Season by season.
On pace for 14 points over 82 games, which would beat his best season so far: 6 in 2025–26.
| SEASON | TEAM | GP | G | A | PTS | POINTS PER GAME | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026–27 · now | BUF | 12 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0.17 | −2 |
| 2025–26 · best | BUF | 43 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 0.14 | +16 |