PuckSleuth
8Cap hit
$3.1M
3.0% of $104M cap
Term
3 yrs
Through 2028-29, then RFA
Clause
None
Surplus value
+$2.205M
vs. $5.305M market estimate
Contract details from our records; public announcement not yet matched
2025-26 regular season
GP
76
Goals
7
5.9% shooting
Assists
15
7 primary
Points
22
0.29 per game
TOI/GP
16:59
PP 0:46 · PK 0:53
xGF%
51.5
5v5, +4.4 vs. last yr
Game Score
+0.36
per game
Faceoff %
—
Plus/minus
+4
Blocks 85 · Hits 33
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 14 vs VGK · L 5-1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 13:28 | 0:00 | 0:34 | — | 75 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0.40 |
| May 12 @ VGK · OTL 3-2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 16:33 | 0:00 | 0:58 | — | 100 | 1 | 0 | 0 | +0.96 |
| May 10 vs VGK · W 4-3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 11:52 | 0:00 | 1:28 | — | 50 | 0 | 0 | +2 | +0.99 |
| Apr 7 vs NSH · L 5-0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8:58 | 0:04 | 0:00 | — | 50 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0.11 |
| Apr 4 vs CGY · L 5-3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 10:52 | 0:00 | 0:44 | — | 50 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0.20 |
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 · 1,092 min · percentile vs. NHL defensemen
67th percentile
70th percentile
62nd percentile
82nd percentile
72nd percentile
83rd percentile
61st percentile
96th percentile
22nd percentile
93rd percentile
17th percentile
36th percentile
53rd percentile
73rd 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 two-way defenseman
Trait percentiles vs. NHL defensemen · 2025-26
Zellweger is a high-volume shooter who creates chances with elite speed and excellent puck management. He plays a more finesse-based game, preferring to rush the puck forward rather than engage physically in the dirty areas.
- Shooting volume
- 93
- Playmaking
- 50
- Zone entries(est.)
- 59
- Forechecking
- 34
- Physicality
- 29
- Defensive impact
- 66
- Puck management
- 64
- Speed
- 90
Where he shoots from
Slot 14% · Mid-range 43% · Perimeter 43%(191 unblocked shots)
Strengths
- Elite 93rd percentile shooting volume from all distances
- 93rd percentile speed helps him transition play and join the rush
- 66th percentile defensive impact shows solid all-around responsibility
Watch-outs
- Just 34th percentile forechecking effort limits his aggressive forecheck game
- 29th percentile physicality means he avoids contact and board play
Similar style: Noah Hanifin (VGK), Brock Faber (MIN)
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 · 76 GP
Season total +27.3, or +0.36 per game.
- Scoring
- +15.9
- Shooting
- +8.9
- 5-on-5 goals
- +0.5
- Defense
- -0.7
- Penalty kill
- +0.5
- Physical play
- +4.9
- Puck battles
- -2.3
- Penalties
- -0.4
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% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | Anaheim Ducks | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | +2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 33.3 | 13:58 | — |
| Career | 1 seasons | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | +2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 33.3 | 13:58 | — |
Seasons traded mid-year show one row per team.
Usage
Last game: @ CBJ, Oct 1
Not on a regular line last game.
From the NHL's shift chart.
Latest news
Headlines from news outlets and team blogs
- Zellweger Clears Protocol, Practices And Will Play In Home Opener
Yahoo Sports · Oct 2
- Sabres Place Olen Zellweger On IR, Reassign Dennis Gilbert
NHL Rumors - ProHockeyRumors.com · Oct 2
- Cleared from concussion, Zellweger looks ahead to Sabres debut | Buffalo Sabres
NHL.com · Oct 2
- Cleared from concussion, Zellweger looks ahead to Sabres debut
NHL.com · Oct 2
- Zellweger | Practice
NHL.com · Oct 2
- Sabres newcomer Olen Zellweger ready to play after suffering concussion
buffalohockeybeat.com · Oct 2
- Sabres’ Olen Zellweger cleared to make Sabres debut against Blackhawks
Daily Faceoff · Oct 2
- Olen Zellweger News: Cleared to return
RotoWire · 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 +0.39 per game over these 10.
Skating · NHL EDGE
2025-26, as of Oct 2
- Top speed
- 22.5 mph
- 82nd pct
- 20+ mph bursts
- 170
- Hardest shot
- 90.0 mph
- 47th pct
- Distance
- 206.0 mi
- OZ time
- 44.1%
- 84th pct
- DZ time
- 37.8%
Age curve
NHL defensemen · production index
At 23, defensemen typically produce 100% of their peak (age 24). His contract runs through age 25, when the typical level is 100%.
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
3 seasons left
| Season | Team | Cap hit | % of cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | BUF | $3.1M | 3.0% |
| 2027-28 | BUF | $3.1M | 2.7% |
| 2028-29 | BUF | $3.1M | — |
RFA after 2028-29. $9.3M 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).