PuckSleuth
12Not on an NHL roster · Defense · Shoots R
Ryan Ufko
Age 23 · 6'0" · 174 lb · Born in Smithtown, USA
Cap hit
$943K
0.9% of $104M cap
Term
1 yr
Through 2026-27, then RFA
Clause
None
Surplus value
—
needs 40 recent games
Contract details from our records; public announcement not yet matched
2026-27 regular season
GP
1
Goals
0
0.0% shooting
Assists
0
0 primary
Points
0
0.00 per game
TOI/GP
15:27
PP 2:54 · PK 0:00
xGF%
49.2
5v5, +7.8 vs. last yr
Game Score
-0.11
per game, goals above average
Faceoff %
—
Plus/minus
-1
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 1 vs MIN · L 3-1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 15:27 | 2:54 | 0:00 | — | 100 | 1 | 0 | -1 | -0.11 |
| Apr 16 vs ANA · L 5-4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 20:29 | 2:52 | 0:21 | — | 33 | 1 | 1 | -1 | +0.13 |
| Apr 13 vs SJS · L 3-2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 16:30 | 0:00 | 0:00 | — | 25 | 1 | 0 | +1 | +0.29 |
| Apr 11 vs MIN · W 2-1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 13:21 | 1:06 | 0:00 | — | 100 | 0 | 0 | +1 | -0.07 |
| Apr 9 @ UTA · L 4-1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 18:02 | 2:20 | 1:03 | — | 100 | 0 | 0 | -1 | -0.07 |
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 · 216 min · percentile vs. NHL defensemen
4th percentile
49th percentile
10th percentile
8th percentile
54th percentile
3rd percentile
41st percentile
19th percentile
6th percentile
54th percentile
72nd percentile
100th percentile
88th percentile
83rd 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 styleOffensive playmaker defenseman
Trait percentiles vs. NHL defensemen · 2025-26
Ufko is a pass-first defenseman who excels at setting up plays from the perimeter, ranking in the 92nd percentile for playmaking. However, he's a limited shooter who rarely generates volume and lacks the speed and physicality typical of modern NHL defensemen.
- Shooting volume
- 26
- Playmaking
- 92
- Zone entries(est.)
- 60
- Forechecking
- 28
- Physicality
- 29
- Defensive impact
- 41
- Puck management
- 58
- Speed
- 24
Where he shoots from
Slot 26% · Mid-range 11% · Perimeter 63%(19 unblocked shots)
Strengths
- Playmaking prowess at 92nd percentile drives offensive creation
- Rush chance generation in the 60th percentile shows decent entry ability
- Puck management in 58th percentile keeps play flowing forward
Watch-outs
- Shooting volume at 26th percentile, very few attempts from anywhere
- Speed ranks just 24th percentile, limits transition effectiveness
- Physicality at 29th percentile means minimal defensive presence in battles
Similar style: Ryan Shea (EDM), Ryan McDonagh (TBL)
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 · 18 GP · goals above average
Season total +0.7 goals, or +0.04 per game.
- Even strength offense
- -0.3
- Even strength defense
- -0.4
- Finishing
- +1.2
- Playmaking
- +0.7
- 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 | NSH | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 1 | 15:27 | — | -0.11 |
| 2025-26 | NSH | 18 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 0 | 11 | 13:53 | — | +0.04 |
| 2024-25 | NSH | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15:37 | — | -0.05 |
Latest news
Headlines from news outlets and team blogs
- Predators Reassign Ryan Ufko to Milwaukee
Yahoo Sports · Oct 2
- Nashville Predators Reassign Ryan Ufko
BVM Sports · Oct 2
- Nashville Predators Change Defensive Lines, Ufko Sent to AHL
heavy.com · Oct 2
- Predators Assign Ryan Ufko to Milwaukee (AHL)
NHL.com · Oct 2
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 -0.03 per game over these 10.
Skating · NHL EDGE
2025-26, as of Oct 2
- Top speed
- 20.7 mph
- 19th pct
- 20+ mph bursts
- 6
- Hardest shot
- 88.0 mph
- 36th pct
- Distance
- 34.1 mi
- OZ time
- 41.0%
- 40th pct
- DZ time
- 41.3%
Age curve
NHL defensemen · production index
At 23, defensemen typically produce 100% of their peak (age 24).
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
1 season left
| Season | Team | Cap hit | % of cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | NSH | $943K | 0.9% |
RFA after 2026-27. $943K 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).