PuckSleuth
2Cap hit
$4.9M
4.7% of $104M cap
Term
2 yrs
Through 2027-28, then UFA
Clause
None
Surplus value
−$441K
vs. $4.459M market estimate
Confirmed by the public signing announcement · source
2026-27 regular season
GP
1
Goals
1
100.0% shooting
Assists
0
0 primary
Points
1
1.00 per game
TOI/GP
22:53
PP 0:00 · PK 1:50
xGF%
47.9
5v5, -3.1 vs. last yr
Game Score
+0.94
per game
Faceoff %
—
Plus/minus
0
Blocks 1 · Hits 0
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2 vs BOS · OTL 4-3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 22:53 | 0:00 | 1:50 | — | 71 | 3 | 1 | 0 | +0.94 |
| Apr 16 vs SJS · L 6-1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 19:45 | 0:00 | 1:57 | — | 75 | 3 | 0 | -4 | -0.85 |
| Apr 14 @ UTA · L 5-3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 17:57 | 0:00 | 3:29 | — | 33 | 1 | 0 | 0 | +0.04 |
| Apr 13 @ VGK · L 6-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 23:36 | 0:04 | 7:22 | — | 20 | 0 | 0 | -1 | +0.12 |
| Apr 11 vs PHI · L 7-1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 22:02 | 0:23 | 1:23 | — | 80 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +0.45 |
GS = our Game Score (credit for everything he did; goals and assists count most). FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.
Advanced metrics
5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 1,475 min · percentile vs. NHL defensemen
64th percentile
93rd percentile
44th percentile
57th percentile
74th percentile
66th percentile
57th percentile
39th percentile
72nd percentile
12th percentile
48th percentile
19th percentile
46th percentile
80th percentile
xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.
Play styleShutdown defenseman
Trait percentiles vs. NHL defensemen · 2025-26
DeMelo is a defensive anchor who excels at limiting chances and controlling play through smart positioning rather than flashy skills. He plays a grinding, stay-at-home game focused on stopping opponents, though he rarely drives offense or attacks with speed.
- Shooting volume
- 23
- Playmaking
- 14
- Zone entries(est.)
- 49
- Forechecking
- 54
- Physicality
- 57
- Defensive impact
- 83
- Puck management
- 71
- Speed
- 10
Where he shoots from
Slot 5% · Mid-range 18% · Perimeter 77%(132 unblocked shots)
Strengths
- Excellent defensive impact in the 83rd percentile keeps opponents off the scoreboard
- Strong puck management in 71st percentile limits turnovers and maintains possession
- Solid forechecking in 54th percentile contributes to defensive pressure and transition play
Watch-outs
- Bottom 10th percentile in speed limits his ability to recover and chase down plays
- Minimal playmaking at 14th percentile means few offensive contributions from the blue line
- Very low shooting volume in 23rd percentile shows he rarely threatens the net
Similar style: Connor Murphy (EDM), Joel Hanley (CGY)
Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.
Where his Game Score comes from
2025-26 · 82 GP
Season total +21.8, or +0.27 per game.
- Scoring
- +11.8
- Shooting
- +5.6
- 5-on-5 goals
- +0.1
- Defense
- +0.6
- Penalty kill
- -0.2
- Physical play
- +7.8
- Puck battles
- -2.9
- Penalties
- -1.1
Game Score gives credit for everything a player does in a game. Goals (1.0) and assists (0.7 primary, 0.5 secondary) count most; shots, blocks, hits, takeaways, penalties drawn, faceoff wins, killing penalties, and holding down the other team's chances add to it. Only mistakes subtract: goals against at 5-on-5, giveaways, penalties taken, faceoff losses, and allowing more chances than an average player would. A player who is there to defend or kill penalties is not marked down for not scoring. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.
Career stats
From the NHL's player records
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | PPG | PPP | SHG | GWG | SOG | S% | TOI | FO% | GS/GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | San Jose Sharks | 45 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 14 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 4.8 | 13:37 | — | — |
| 2016-17 | San Jose Sharks | 25 | 1 | 7 | 8 | +2 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 3.1 | 15:54 | — | — |
| 2017-18 | San Jose Sharks | 63 | 0 | 20 | 20 | -1 | 34 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 67 | 0.0 | 14:12 | — | — |
| 2018-19 | Ottawa Senators | 77 | 4 | 18 | 22 | -1 | 32 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 109 | 3.7 | 19:17 | — | — |
| 2019-20 | Ottawa Senators | 49 | 0 | 10 | 10 | +3 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 64 | 0.0 | 19:55 | — | — |
| 2019-20 | Winnipeg Jets | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0.0 | 21:14 | — | — |
| 2020-21 | Winnipeg Jets | 52 | 0 | 9 | 9 | +10 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 0.0 | 16:58 | — | — |
| 2021-22 | Winnipeg Jets | 76 | 1 | 12 | 13 | +10 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 78 | 1.3 | 18:30 | — | — |
| 2022-23 | Winnipeg Jets | 75 | 6 | 21 | 27 | +10 | 50 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 93 | 6.5 | 19:34 | — | +0.42 |
| 2023-24 | Winnipeg Jets | 82 | 3 | 28 | 31 | +46 | 36 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 83 | 3.6 | 21:44 | — | +0.48 |
| 2024-25 | Winnipeg Jets | 82 | 3 | 16 | 19 | +31 | 38 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 75 | 4.0 | 21:32 | — | +0.33 |
| 2025-26 | Winnipeg Jets | 82 | 3 | 16 | 19 | +7 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 75 | 4.0 | 21:27 | — | +0.27 |
| 2026-27 | Winnipeg Jets | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 100.0 | 22:53 | — | +0.94 |
| Career | 12 seasons | 719 | 24 | 159 | 183 | +118 | 343 | 2 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 773 | 3.1 | 19:00 | — |
Seasons traded mid-year show one row per team. GS/GP is our Game Score per game.
Usage
Last game: vs BOS, Oct 2
Pair 2 with Josh Morrissey (10:17 together at 5-on-5)
From the NHL's shift chart.
Latest news
Headlines from news outlets and team blogs
- Dylan DeMelo nets goal for Jets
ESPN · Oct 3
- Winnipeg Jets unveil their opening night roster and home jersey schedule for the 2026-27 NHL season
jetsnation.ca · Sep 30
Sentiment & chatter
Fans
—
Beat writers
—
Media
—
Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.
Recent Game Scores
Last 10 games · goals above average
Average +0.06 per game over these 10.
Skating · NHL EDGE
2025-26, as of Oct 2
- Top speed
- 20.5 mph
- 14th pct
- 20+ mph bursts
- 8
- Hardest shot
- 86.6 mph
- 30th pct
- Distance
- 229.9 mi
- OZ time
- 40.9%
- 39th pct
- DZ time
- 41.4%
Age curve
NHL defensemen · production index
At 33, defensemen typically produce 76% of their peak (age 24). His contract runs through age 34, when the typical level is 71%.
From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.
Contract by season
2 seasons left
| Season | Team | Cap hit | % of cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | WPG | $4.9M | 4.7% |
| 2027-28 | WPG | $4.9M | 4.3% |
UFA after 2027-28. $9.8M in cap hits left. % of cap uses each season's ceiling where the league has set one ($104M this season, $113.5M in 2027-28).