| Date | Team | Transaction | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 27, 2026 | Colorado Avalanche | Signed 4 years @ $4.750M AAV starting in 2026-27 | |
| Jun 30, 2025 | Colorado Avalanche | Signed 1 year @ $1.400M AAV starting in 2025-26 | |
| Mar 30, 2023 | Colorado Avalanche | Signed 2 years @ $850K AAV starting in 2023-24 |
URL: https://thestanleycap.com/cdn/player_cards/20252026/sam-malinski-8484258.png
URL: https://thestanleycap.com/cdn/player_cards/20242025/sam-malinski-8484258.png
URL: https://thestanleycap.com/cdn/player_cards/20232024/sam-malinski-8484258.png
Player cards present an infographic of a players performance using a series of Player Archetypes developed for Puckalytics.com and TheStanleyCap.com. The boxes in the rink image show the archetype ratings for the season specified in the card while the graphs to the right show the five-year trends for those archetypes.
Except for Faceoffs, the values shown are the players z-score (standard deviation from the mean) for the specific metric used to calculate the archetype values. When calculating z-scores forwards were compared to forwards and defensemen were compared to defensemen. Positive values indicate the player is above average and shaded in blue, while negative values indicate the player is below average and shaded in pink. The five year trend charts show a range of -4.0 to 4.0.
The value shown for Faceoffs is the faceoff winning percentage rather than their z-score with winning percentages below 50 in pink shades and above 50 in blue shades.
All archetypes are 5v5 except 5v4 TOI, 4v5 TOI, Skating (even strength) and Faceoffs (all situations). Archetypes use regular season data only.
You are free to use include player cards in written articles, share on social media, or on other public websites under the following conditions:
Note: Player cards will update daily throughout the season so if you want to include snapshot then you must download the image.
If you have any questions, send an e-mail to the e-mail address at the top of this page.
Read Introducing Player Archetypes on HockeyAnalysis.com for more details on archetype calculations.
| Season | Team(s) | GP | TOI | Producer | Playmaker | Shooter | Sniper | Rebound | Rush | Skating | Defend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | COL | 23 | 2.43 | 2.63 | 0.72 | 0.87 | - | 1.24 | 2.34 | 0.07 | |
| 2024-25 | COL | 76 | -0.59 | -0.87 | 0.10 | -0.09 | - | 0.36 | 2.48 | 1.66 | |
| 2025-26 | COL | 82 | 2.50 | 2.87 | 0.46 | -0.01 | - | 1.37 | 1.63 | 1.59 |
| Season | Team(s) | GP | TOI | 5v5 TOI | 5v4 TOI | 4v5 TOI | Possession | Drive | Suppress | Faceoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | COL | 23 | -1.42 | -1.08 | -2.12 | -0.51 | -0.76 | -0.09 | - | |
| 2024-25 | COL | 76 | -0.84 | -1.26 | -1.64 | -0.66 | -0.70 | 0.26 | - | |
| 2025-26 | COL | 82 | -0.02 | -1.31 | -1.19 | 1.39 | 1.03 | -1.36 | - |
Player archetypes are a look at a players strengths and weaknesses in his game when compared to other players around the leeague. Except for Faceoffs, the values shown are the players z-score (standard deviation from the mean) for the specific metric used to calculate the archetype values. When calculating z-scores forwards were compared to forwards and defensemen were compared to defensemen. Positive values indicate the player is above average and shaded in blue, while negative values indicate the player is below average and shaded in pink. The five year trend charts show a range of -4.0 to 4.0.
The value shown for Faceoffs is the faceoff winning percentage rather than their z-score with winning percentages below 50 in pink shades and above 50 in blue shades.
All archetypes are 5v5 except 5v4 TOI, 4v5 TOI and Faceoffs (all situations). Archetypes use regular season data only.
Read Introducing Player Archetypes on HockeyAnalysis.com for more details on archetype calculations.
| Season | Team(s) | GP | TOI | G/60 | A/60 | Pts/60 | xG/60 | GAE/60 | Sh% | xSh% | Sh%AE | %SA Rush | %SA Reb. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | COL | 23 | 305:13 | 0.39 | 1.18 | 1.57 | 0.25 | 0.14 | 6.90 | 4.36 | 2.54 | 2.33 | 2.33 |
| 2024-25 | COL | 76 | 1120:41 | 0.21 | 0.48 | 0.70 | 0.23 | -0.01 | 3.67 | 3.92 | -0.25 | 0.67 | 2.01 |
| 2025-26 | COL | 82 | 1305:42 | 0.32 | 1.38 | 1.70 | 0.30 | 0.02 | 4.46 | 4.20 | 0.26 | 1.67 | 0.42 |
| Season | Team(s) | GP | TOI | SAF/60 | GF/60 | xGF/60 | SAA/60 | GA/60 | xGA/60 | GF% | xGF% | xGF Rel | xGA Rel | xGF% Rel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | COL | 23 | 305:13 | 40.10 | 3.15 | 2.11 | 42.46 | 2.56 | 2.48 | 55.17 | 45.94 | -0.58 | 0.13 | -7.41 |
| 2024-25 | COL | 76 | 1120:41 | 41.22 | 2.30 | 2.29 | 37.21 | 1.87 | 2.26 | 55.13 | 50.33 | -0.48 | 0.04 | -5.22 |
| 2025-26 | COL | 82 | 1305:42 | 51.74 | 3.31 | 3.23 | 36.07 | 1.38 | 2.09 | 70.59 | 60.68 | 0.12 | -0.43 | 5.52 |
| Skating | Shooting | Zone Time | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | GP | Top Speed | Bursts>20/mi | Avg. Speed | ES Avg. Speed | Top Speed | Avg. Speed | %Long Range | %Mid Range | %High Danger | ES DZ% | ES NZ% | ES OZ% |
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| Percentile 0-25 | Percentile 25-50 | Percentile 50-75 | Percentile 75-100 |
| Season | Teammate | Team | TOI | GF/60 | GA/60 | GF% | xGF/60 | xGA/60 | xGF% | xGF Rel | xGA Rel | xGF% Rel |
|---|
| Type | Statistic | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | G/60 | Goals Against per 60 minutes. |
| Individual | A/60 | Assists per 60 minutes. |
| Individual | Pts/60 | Points per 60 minutes. |
| Individual | xG/60 | Expected Goals per 60 minutes. |
| Individual | GAE/60 | Goals Above Expected (G/60 - xG/60). |
| Individual | Sh% | Shooting Percentage. |
| Individual | xSh% | Expected Shooting Percentage. |
| Individual | Sh%AE | Shooting percentage above expected (Sh% - xSh%). |
| Individual | %SA Rush | Percentage of shot attempts determined to be on the rush. |
| Individual | %SA Reb. | Percentage of shot attempts determined to be from rebounds. |
| On Ice | SAF/60 | Shot Attempts For per 60 minutes. |
| On Ice | GF/60 | Goals For per 60 minutes. |
| On Ice | xGF/60 | Expected Goals For per 60 minutes. |
| On Ice | SAA/60 | Shot Attempts Against per 60 minutes (lower is better). |
| On Ice | GA/60 | Goals Against per 60 minutes (lower is better). |
| On Ice | xGA/60 | Expected Goals Against per 60 minutes (lower is better). |
| On Ice | GF% | Goals For Percentage = Goals For / (Goals For + Goals Against) |
| On Ice | xGF% | Expected Goals For Percentage = Expected Goals For / (Expected Goals For + Expected Goals Against) |
| On Ice | xGF Rel | xGF/60 when On Ice - xGF/60 when not On Ice. |
| On Ice | xGA Rel | xGA/60 when On Ice - xGA/60 when not On Ice (lower is better). |
| On Ice | xGF% Rel | xGF% when On Ice - xGF% when not On Ice. |
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Round 3 Preview: All Eyes on the Defense at Yahoo Sports NHL (Mon May 18, 2026)
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Avalanche Mailbag 2.0: Potential Playoff Matchups, Burns’ Role, Malinski Contract Talks & More at Colorado Hockey Now (Mon Jan 19, 2026)
Avalanche defenseman garnering high praise amid breakout season at Mile High Sticking (Thu Nov 20, 2025)
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Avalanche Mailbag 2.0: Malinski’s Future, Girard’s Fit, Pending UFA Scott Wedgewood, & More at Colorado Hockey Now (Fri Nov 7, 2025)
Examining Jared Bednar's Sam Malinski experiment at Mile High Sticking (Wed Oct 8, 2025)
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Colorado Avalanche’s addition of Brent Burns is the best thing for Sam Malinski in 2025-26 at Mile High Sticking (Sun Jul 6, 2025)
As the draft unfolds, Avalanche quietly check off a key RFA box at Mile High Sticking (Fri Jun 27, 2025)
Sam Malinski signed a $1,400,000 1-year contract with the Colorado Avalanche and General Manager Chris MacFarland on June 30, 2025 with an AAV of $1,400,000. This contract will start in 2025-26 and end after the 2025-26 season. In the first season of the contract the cap hit was equivalent to 1.47% of the salary cap.
Sam Malinski signed a $19,000,000 4-year contract with the Colorado Avalanche and General Manager Chris MacFarland on January 27, 2026 with an AAV of $4,750,000. This contract will start in 2026-27 and end after the 2029-30 season. In the first season of the contract the cap hit was equivalent to 4.57% of the salary cap.
| Season | Age* | Clause | Cap Hit | AAV | Perf. Bonus | Sign. Bonus | Salary | Compensation | Minors Salary | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | 28 | NTC | $4,750,000 | $4,750,000 | - | - | $5,500,000 | $5,500,000 | $4,750,000 | UFA | |
| 2027-28 | 29 | NTC | $4,750,000 | $4,750,000 | - | - | $4,500,000 | $4,500,000 | $4,500,000 | UFA | |
| 2028-29 | 30 | M-NTC | $4,750,000 | $4,750,000 | - | - | $4,500,000 | $4,500,000 | $4,500,000 | UFA | |
| 2029-30 | 31 | M-NTC | $4,750,000 | $4,750,000 | - | $1,000,000 | $3,500,000 | $4,500,000 | $4,500,000 | UFA | |
| Total | - | $1,000,000 | $18,000,000 | $19,000,000 | $18,250,000 |
Sam Malinski signed a $1,700,000 2-year contract with the Colorado Avalanche and General Manager Chris MacFarland on March 30, 2023 with an AAV of $850,000. This contract will start in 2023-24 and end after the 2024-25 season. In the first season of the contract the cap hit was equivalent to 1.02% of the salary cap.
| Season | Age* | Clause | Cap Hit | AAV | Perf. Bonus | Sign. Bonus | Salary | Compensation | Minors Salary | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | 25 | $850,000 | $850,000 | - | $75,000 | $775,000 | $850,000 | $150,000 | RFA | ||
| 2024-25 | 26 | $850,000 | $850,000 | - | $75,000 | $775,000 | $850,000 | $150,000 | RFA | ||
| Total | - | $150,000 | $1,550,000 | $1,700,000 | $300,000 |
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | League | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM | Shots | Sh% | TOI/G | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM | Shots | Sh% | TOI/G |
| 2014-15 | USHS-MN | Lakeville South High | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||
| 2015-16 | USHS-MN | Lakeville South High | 25 | 4 | 18 | 22 | 8 | 2 | 2 | |||||||||||
| 2016-17 | USHS-MN | Lakeville South High | 24 | 5 | 22 | 27 | 16 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |||||||||
| 2016-17 | UMHSEHL | Team MAP South Hockey | 20 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 2 | ||||||||||||
| 2017-18 | NAHL | Bismarck Bobcats | 28 | 1 | 9 | 10 | -5 | 8 | ||||||||||||
| 2017-18 | USHL | Cedar Rapids RoughRiders | 19 | 2 | 1 | 3 | -1 | 4 | ||||||||||||
| 2018-19 | NAHL | Bismarck Bobcats | 59 | 14 | 31 | 45 | +20 | 24 | 3 | 2 | ||||||||||
| 2019-20 | NCAA | Cornell Univ. | 25 | 4 | 12 | 16 | +14 | 12 | ||||||||||||
| 2021-22 | NCAA | Cornell Univ. | 32 | 5 | 18 | 23 | +20 | 26 | ||||||||||||
| 2022-23 | AHL | Colorado Eagles | 7 | 3 | 2 | 5 | +4 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 2 | |||||||||
| 2023-24 | NHL | Colorado Avalanche | 23 | 3 | 7 | 10 | +3 | 6 | 31 | 9.7 | 14:14 | |||||||||
| 2023-24 | AHL | Colorado Eagles | 46 | 5 | 22 | 27 | +5 | 20 | 3 | 2 | 2 | -3 | ||||||||
| 2024-25 | NHL | Colorado Avalanche | 76 | 5 | 10 | 15 | +8 | 16 | 115 | 4.3 | 15:57 | 5 | 1 | 1 | +3 | 4 | 9 | 0.0 | 14:00 | |
| 2025-26 | NHL | Colorado Avalanche | 82 | 8 | 32 | 40 | +43 | 22 | 164 | 4.9 | 17:37 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 3 | +4 | 18 | 5.6 | 20:07 | |
| NHL Career | 181 | 16 | 49 | 65 | +54 | 44 | 310 | 5.2 | 16:29 | 14 | 1 | 3 | 4 | +7 | 4 | 27 | 3.7 | 17:56 | ||