At a Glance: The Leading NHL EDGE Metrics of the Season
Jenn G., Montour skills comp 11 9, Wikimedia Commons, 9 Nov. 2024, CC BY‑SA 2.0.
Written by Gina Anton
NHL Edge Overview
NHL Edge is a high tech system designed to track skaters speed, shot speed, shot location, and puck zone time all through a sensor placed in player’s jerseys. The sensor is also in all the pucks used and in cameras all over the arenas. It’s geared towards giving fans an insight into more players' stats.
Skating speed: 24.61 miles per hour - Connor McDavid (F, EDM)
Connor McDavid hit a noteworthy top speed of 24.61 miles per hour during the second period of Edmonton’s season opener against the Calgary Flames on October 8. This is his fastest recorded pace since the NHL EDGE tracking system was introduced in 2021-22. That burst surpassed his previous best of 24.19 mph, set during the 2023-24 campaign.
Since tracking began, only one player has clocked a faster in-game speed which was Miles Wood, who reached 24.82 mph last season. McDavid, however, continues to dominate with sustained pace, leading the league in both 22+ mph bursts (24 in 13 games) and 20+ mph bursts (102) this year. He remains the NHL’s active leader in career points per game at 1.52.
Hardest Shot on Goal: 96.40 mph – Brandon Montour (D, Seattle Kraken)
Brandon Montour unleashed a 96.40-mile-per-hour rocket against the New York Rangers on November 1, claiming the title for the hardest shot on goal so far this season. The Seattle defenseman, who ranks tied for eighth among blue-liners in 90-plus mph shot attempts (4), continues to showcase one of the league’s most powerful releases.
Montour is coming out of a breakout year where he posted a career-best 18 goals, ranking fourth among NHL defensemen.
For comparison, the hardest shot recorded in the puck and player tracking era (since 2021-22) still belongs to Tage Thompson of the Buffalo Sabres, who blasted a 103.70-mph goal against the Washington Capitals on January 6 of last season.
Offensive Zone Time Percentage: 48.7% – Adam Fox (D, New York Rangers)
Adam Fox has spent more time in the attacking end than any other NHL skater this season. Among players with at least 10 games played and 12-plus minutes of ice time per game, Fox tops the League in offensive zone time percentage at all strengths (48.7%). He’s also among the top performers on the power play, ranking tied for fifth among defensemen with a 64.1% offensive zone time.
The Rangers’ blue-line leader continues to drive their offense, pacing the team in points (11) and assists (8) while ranking second in total shot attempts (81), trailing only Artemi Panarin (93).
As a team, the Carolina Hurricanes once again dominate puck possession, sitting first in the NHL with a 45.1% offensive zone time percentage — extending their run as the League’s leader in that category for the fourth straight season.
