PuckSleuth
45Not on an NHL roster · Defense · Shoots L
Drew Fortescue
Age 21 · 6'1" · 188 lb · Born in Pearl River, USA
Cap hit
$946K
0.9% of $104M cap
Term
2 yrs
Through 2027-28, then RFA
Clause
None
Surplus value
—
needs 40 recent games
Contract details from our records; public announcement not yet matched
2025-26 regular season
GP
9
Goals
0
0.0% shooting
Assists
2
1 primary
Points
2
0.22 per game
TOI/GP
14:51
PP 0:10 · PK 0:02
xGF%
49.4
5v5
Game Score
+0.22
per game
Faceoff %
—
Plus/minus
+4
Blocks 7 · Hits 6
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 15 @ TBL · W 4-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 15:44 | 0:00 | 0:00 | — | 50 | 2 | 0 | 0 | -0.00 |
| Apr 13 @ FLA · L 3-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13:02 | 0:00 | 0:07 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | -0.14 |
| Apr 8 vs BUF · L 5-3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13:34 | 0:00 | 0:00 | — | 100 | 0 | 0 | -1 | +0.49 |
| Apr 5 vs WSH · W 8-1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 17:53 | 0:28 | 0:00 | — | 100 | 0 | 0 | +3 | +0.47 |
| Apr 4 vs DET · W 4-1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11:16 | 0:00 | 0:00 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | +1 | +0.00 |
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 · 129 min · percentile vs. NHL defensemen
52nd percentile
39th percentile
71st percentile
12th percentile
10th percentile
13th percentile
97th percentile
15th percentile
24th percentile
1st percentile
46th percentile
14th percentile
100th percentile
44th 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 rushing defenseman
Trait percentiles vs. NHL defensemen · 2025-26
Fortescue is a high-event defender who excels at creating rush chances and shutting down opponents despite limited offensive output. He plays a safe, perimeter-focused game with elite defensive instincts but needs to develop his physical presence and shooting aggression.
- Shooting volume
- 5
- Playmaking
- 71
- Zone entries(est.)
- 95
- Forechecking
- 0
- Physicality
- 33
- Defensive impact
- 96
- Puck management
- 51
- Speed
- 20
Where he shoots from
Slot 0% · Mid-range 25% · Perimeter 75%(8 unblocked shots)
Strengths
- Dominant at creating rush chances, ranking 95th percentile among defensemen
- Elite defensive impact rating, stopping plays at a 96th percentile level
- Excellent playmaking ability to move the puck at 71st percentile
Watch-outs
- Minimal shooting volume at just 5th percentile, rarely attempts shots
- Weak forechecking at 0th percentile, not generating pressure below the goal line
- Limited physicality at 33rd percentile for a defensive-minded player
Similar style: Esa Lindell (DAL), Chris Tanev (TOR)
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 · 9 GP
Season total +2.0, or +0.22 per game.
- Scoring
- +1.2
- Shooting
- +0.2
- 5-on-5 goals
- +0.6
- Defense
- +0.1
- Physical play
- +0.5
- Puck battles
- -0.3
- 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% | GS/GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | New York Rangers | 9 | 0 | 2 | 2 | +4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.0 | 14:51 | — | +0.22 |
| Career | 1 seasons | 9 | 0 | 2 | 2 | +4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.0 | 14:51 | — |
Seasons traded mid-year show one row per team. GS/GP is our Game Score per game.
Latest news
Headlines from news outlets and team blogs
- Rangers Rookie Series Breakdown w/Russ Cohen
player.amperwavepodcasting.com?feed-link=https%3A%2F%2Frss.amperwave.net%2Fv2%2Fepisode%2F8657223_2026-09-14-182623 · Sep 15
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 9 games · goals above average
Average +0.22 per game over these 9.
Skating · NHL EDGE
2025-26, as of Oct 2
- Top speed
- 20.8 mph
- 22nd pct
- 20+ mph bursts
- 2
- Hardest shot
- 76.8 mph
- 10th pct
- Distance
- 19.4 mi
- OZ time
- 43.5%
- 77th pct
- DZ time
- 38.3%
Age curve
NHL defensemen · production index
At 21, defensemen typically produce 97% of their peak (age 24). His contract runs through age 22, when the typical level is 98%.
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 | NYR | $946K | 0.9% |
| 2027-28 | NYR | $946K | 0.8% |
RFA after 2027-28. $1.892M 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).