PuckSleuth
17Cap hit
$1.7M
1.6% of $104M cap
Term
4 yrs
Through 2029-30, then UFA
Clause
None
Surplus value
+$1.772M
vs. $3.472M market estimate
Confirmed by the public signing announcement · source
2026-27 regular season
GP
1
Goals
1
100.0% shooting
Assists
1
0 primary
Points
2
2.00 per game
TOI/GP
12:53
PP 0:00 · PK 3:28
xGF%
81.9
5v5, +23.5 vs. last yr
Game Score
+0.90
per game, goals above average
Faceoff %
—
0 W · 2 L
Plus/minus
+2
Blocks 0 · Hits 3
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 30 vs LAK · W 8-4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 12:53 | 0:00 | 3:28 | 0-2 | 50 | 2 | 0 | +2 | +0.90 |
| May 26 @ VGK · L 2-1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 11:48 | 0:00 | 1:55 | — | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | -0.31 |
| May 24 @ VGK · L 5-3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 12:52 | 0:00 | 2:13 | — | 50 | 1 | 0 | -1 | +0.44 |
| May 22 vs VGK · L 3-1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9:52 | 0:00 | 2:25 | 1-1 | 25 | 0 | 0 | -1 | +0.01 |
| May 20 vs VGK · L 4-2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8:57 | 0:00 | 0:20 | 0-2 | 33 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -0.20 |
GS = our Game Score, goals above average. 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 · 845 min · percentile vs. NHL forwards
96th percentile
54th percentile
97th percentile
95th percentile
55th percentile
94th percentile
92nd percentile
92nd percentile
90th percentile
42nd percentile
96th percentile
91st percentile
62nd percentile
31st 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 styleDefensive, physical center
Trait percentiles vs. NHL centers · 2025-26
Kelly is a relentless two-way center who wins battles and limits opponent chances, but his playmaking and puck skills are not elite. He compensates with hard work on the forecheck and strong positional defense.
- Shooting volume
- 49
- Playmaking
- 21
- Zone entries(est.)
- 69
- Forechecking
- 80
- Physicality
- 86
- Defensive impact
- 92
- Puck management
- 45
- Speed
- 56
Where he shoots from
Slot 43% · Mid-range 35% · Perimeter 22%(153 unblocked shots)
Strengths
- Elite defensive impact (92nd percentile) and net-positive 5v5 play despite modest scoring
- Exceptional physicality (86th) and forechecking (80th) create turnovers and offensive opportunity
- Good rush chance creation (69th percentile) with efficient shot placement, 43% from the slot
Watch-outs
- Playmaking sits at just 21st percentile, limiting his offensive creation
- Below-average puck management (45th) and shooting volume (49th) restrict play-driving ability
Similar style: Colton Dach (EDM), Casey Cizikas (NYI)
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 · goals above average
Season total +6.9 goals, or +0.08 per game.
- Even strength offense
- +0.3
- Even strength defense
- +1.9
- Power play
- -0.1
- Penalty kill
- -0.6
- Finishing
- +8.5
- Playmaking
- -3.1
- Penalties
- +0.6
- Faceoffs
- -0.5
Game Score adds up a player's impact in goals compared with an average player given the same ice time: his share of expected goals for and against at even strength, on the power play, and on the penalty kill, plus finishing (goals minus expected goals), primary assists, penalties drawn and taken, and faceoffs. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.
By season
Regular season
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | P | +/- | SOG | TOI/GP | FO% | GS/GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | COL | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | +2 | 1 | 12:53 | — | +0.90 |
| 2025-26 | COL | 82 | 21 | 14 | 35 | +18 | 104 | 12:42 | 36.1% | +0.08 |
| 2024-25 | COL | 80 | 8 | 11 | 19 | -1 | 99 | 12:45 | 43.0% | -0.07 |
| 2023-24 | OTT | 80 | 8 | 10 | 18 | -8 | 86 | 11:42 | — | -0.06 |
| 2022-23 | OTT | 55 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -9 | 59 | 10:30 | — | -0.15 |
Latest news
Headlines from news outlets and team blogs
- Avalanche Stole Parker Kelly at $1.7 Million, Seravalli Says
milehighsticking.com · Oct 1
- Avalanche Prospects Show Fight, But Struggle Against Jets NHLers in 3-1 Preseason Loss
lockedonpodcasts.com · Sep 22
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 +0.18 per game over these 10.
Skating · NHL EDGE
2026-27, as of Oct 2
- Top speed
- 20.0 mph
- 26th pct
- 20+ mph bursts
- 1
- Hardest shot
- 87.6 mph
- 94th pct
- Distance
- 2.1 mi
- OZ time
- 35.3%
- 8th pct
- DZ time
- 45.3%
Age curve
NHL forwards · production index
At 27, forwards typically produce 96% of their peak (age 24). His contract runs through age 30, when the typical level is 84%.
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
4 seasons left
| Season | Team | Cap hit | % of cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | COL | $1.7M | 1.6% |
| 2027-28 | COL | $1.7M | 1.5% |
| 2028-29 | COL | $1.7M | — |
| 2029-30 | COL | $1.7M | — |
UFA after 2029-30. $6.8M 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).