PuckSleuth
23Buffalo Sabres · Defense · Shoots L
Mattias Samuelsson
Age 26 · 6'4" · 234 lb · Born in Philadelphia, USA
Cap hit
$4.286M
4.1% of $104M cap
Term
4 yrs
Through 2029-30, then UFA
Clause
None
Surplus value
+$2.34M
vs. $6.626M 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
18:21
PP 0:00 · PK 0:35
xGF%
38.6
5v5, -11.5 vs. last yr
Game Score
+0.46
per game, goals above average
Faceoff %
—
Plus/minus
-2
Blocks 0 · Hits 0
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1 @ CBJ · L 6-3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 18:21 | 0:00 | 0:35 | — | 43 | 2 | 0 | -2 | +0.46 |
| May 18 vs MTL · OTL 3-2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 28:35 | 0:00 | 0:22 | — | 80 | 1 | 0 | +1 | +0.67 |
| May 16 @ MTL · W 8-3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 22:53 | 0:00 | 2:12 | — | 40 | 0 | 0 | +1 | +0.53 |
| May 14 vs MTL · L 6-3 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 25:27 | 0:00 | 1:23 | — | 60 | 1 | 2 | 0 | +0.38 |
| May 12 @ MTL · W 3-2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 23:47 | 0:00 | 7:13 | — | 20 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +0.69 |
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 · 1,441 min · percentile vs. NHL defensemen
58th percentile
41st percentile
83rd percentile
31st percentile
24th percentile
36th percentile
90th percentile
53rd percentile
14th percentile
74th percentile
96th percentile
62nd percentile
93rd percentile
30th 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 styleSpeedy two-way defender
Trait percentiles vs. NHL defensemen · 2025-26
Samuelsson is an explosive skater who drives play through physicality and north-south speed, making him dangerous on the forecheck. However, his defensive positioning and impact lag behind his other strengths, limiting his ability to lock down assignments.
- Shooting volume
- 51
- Playmaking
- 65
- Zone entries(est.)
- 44
- Forechecking
- 73
- Physicality
- 78
- Defensive impact
- 27
- Puck management
- 60
- Speed
- 92
Where he shoots from
Slot 9% · Mid-range 35% · Perimeter 56%(163 unblocked shots)
Strengths
- 92nd percentile speed lets him cover ice and join the rush instantly
- 78th percentile physicality makes him a presence on every shift
- 73rd percentile forechecking generates turnovers and zone pressure
Watch-outs
- 27th percentile defensive impact means his positioning doesn't consistently shut down opponents
- 44th percentile rush chances suggest he's not always creating immediate offensive opportunities
Similar style: Braden Schneider (NYR), Jeremy Lauzon (VGK)
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 · 78 GP · goals above average
Season total +5.0 goals, or +0.06 per game.
- Even strength offense
- +0.6
- Even strength defense
- -0.5
- Power play
- -0.1
- Penalty kill
- -0.4
- Finishing
- +5.9
- Playmaking
- +0.1
- Penalties
- -0.6
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 | BUF | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -2 | 1 | 18:21 | — | +0.46 |
| 2025-26 | BUF | 78 | 13 | 28 | 41 | +41 | 109 | 22:50 | — | +0.06 |
| 2024-25 | BUF | 62 | 4 | 10 | 14 | +3 | 52 | 19:18 | — | -0.01 |
| 2023-24 | BUF | 41 | 1 | 6 | 7 | +4 | 44 | 20:30 | — | -0.09 |
| 2022-23 | BUF | 55 | 2 | 8 | 10 | +14 | 76 | 22:11 | — | -0.13 |
Latest news
Headlines from news outlets and team blogs
- Sabres Cannonballed by Columbus, Fall 6-3
diebytheblade.com · Oct 2
- Mattias Samuelsson with a Goal vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
sports.yahoo.com · Oct 2
- Goal | Samuelsson at CBJ
NHL.com · Oct 1
- Mattias Samuelsson delivers the first goal of the 2026-27 season for the Sabres
Sabre Noise · Oct 1
- Sabres to open season with Mattias Samuelsson back in lineup
audacy.com · Oct 1
- Sabres Roster Move Hints at Mattias Samuelsson Injury Decision
heavy.com · Oct 1
- Paul Hamilton on Kulich on 4th line, Samuelsson injury & more | The Jeremy and Joe Show
audacy.com · Oct 1
- With Olen Zellweger out, Sabres could recall defenseman for opener
buffalohockeybeat.com · Oct 1
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 +0.34 per game over these 10.
Skating · NHL EDGE
2025-26, as of Oct 2
- Top speed
- 22.8 mph
- 90th pct
- 20+ mph bursts
- 93
- Hardest shot
- 98.1 mph
- 90th pct
- Distance
- 247.8 mi
- OZ time
- 39.3%
- 15th pct
- DZ time
- 43.1%
Age curve
NHL defensemen · production index
At 26, defensemen typically produce 98% of their peak (age 24). His contract runs through age 29, when the typical level is 93%.
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 | BUF | $4.286M | 4.1% |
| 2027-28 | BUF | $4.286M | 3.8% |
| 2028-29 | BUF | $4.286M | — |
| 2029-30 | BUF | $4.286M | — |
UFA after 2029-30. $17.143M 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).