Written by Maria Kaczmarek
Speed can turn a defensive stop into an offensive opportunity. A powerful shot can change a game in an instant. And time spent in the offensive zone can wear down an opponent before the puck ever finds the back of the net.
The NHL’s EDGE tracking system measures contributions beyond traditional goals and assists. By tracking skating speed, shot power, and offensive-zone time, the technology offers another perspective on how players influence the game. Early in the 2026-27 season, several names are already standing out.
Max Skating Speed: Philip Broberg (D, ANA) - 24.26 mph
St. Louis Blues defenseman Philip Broberg currently leads the NHL in maximum skating speed at 24.26 miles per hour. Edmonton Oilers forward Kasperi Kapanen follows at 24.05 mph, with Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon tied at 24.01 mph.
Broberg’s position at the top is notable. Speed is not just an advantage for forwards chasing breakaways. For defensemen, it can help close gaps, recover against opposing rushes, and join the attack without getting caught behind the play.
Broberg demonstrated that offensive ability against Boston on October 30. He jumped into the play and scored after finding open space in the high slot. As he explained afterward, he wants to use his skating to join the rush, contribute offensively, and still recover defensively. His goal offered a clear example of how speed can make a difference at both ends of the ice.
McDavid shows how that same ability can become an offensive weapon. According to NHL.com, eight of his first nine goals this season came off the rush. His speed allows him to turn transitions into scoring chances before opposing defenses have time to get organized.
Hardest Shot: Cale Makar (D, COL) – 101.9 mph
While speed creates opportunities, shot power can make those chances dangerous.
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar leads the league with a hardest shot of 101.90 mph, recorded against Winnipeg on October 7. Buffalo Sabres forward Tage Thompson follows at 100.17 mph.
Makar's shot is not just the fastest on the current leaderboard; it also ranks in the 99th percentile. His 101.90 mph mark stands well above the NHL average hardest-shot speed of 86.13 mph, according to his NHL EDGE profile.
Defensemen make up six of the top 10 players in the shot-power rankings, including New York Islanders teammates Ryan Pulock and Logan Stanley. That concentration highlights how much offensive production can come from the blue line. Defensemen create scoring chances through shots from distance, one-timers, and pucks sent through traffic. A powerful shot does not guarantee a goal, but it can make a save more difficult and create rebound opportunities for teammates.
Offensive Zone Time: Jackson Blake (RW, CAR) - 51.9%
The third category shifts the focus from individual plays to where the puck spends its time. Carolina Hurricanes forward Jackson Blake leads the offensive-zone time leaderboard in this data snapshot at 51.9 percent. Teammate Shayne Gostisbehere follows at 51.0 percent, while Edmonton's Leon Draisaitl ranks third at 50.5 percent.
Carolina has five players in the top 10, reflecting a larger team identity. The Hurricanes led the NHL in offensive-zone time percentage last season at 45.5 percent and have led the category every season of the tracking era since 2021-22, according to NHL.com.
Blake's position at the top shows how that approach is reflected in an individual player's numbers. Sustaining time in the attacking zone forces opponents to defend for longer stretches, creates more opportunities to generate offense, and makes clean exits more difficult.
The metric does have limitations. NHL EDGE tracks where the puck is located while a player is on the ice; it does not measure individual possession or prove that one player is solely responsible for offensive pressure. Linemates, deployment, and team systems all contribute. Still, it offers a useful picture of how often players are involved in sustained offensive-zone pressure.
More Than a Number
These three metrics, skating speed, shot power, and offensive-zone time, measure different skills, but they connect through one larger idea: creating pressure and making it difficult for opponents to respond.
Broberg shows how speed can give a defenseman an advantage across the ice. Makar demonstrates the threat a powerful shot can create from the blue line, while Blake's numbers reflect the value of keeping play in the offensive zone.
The box score captures who finishes the play. EDGE helps reveal what happens before it: the speed that creates separation, the shot that tests a goalie, and the pressure that keeps an opponent pinned in its own end.
