Nikolas Matinpalo — Stats & Advanced Analytics
Nikolas Matinpalo is an NHL defenseman for the Ottawa Senators. In the 2025-26 season Nikolas Matinpalo has 0 goals, 5 assists and 5 points in 50 games, worth -2.2 Goals Above Replacement.
Player Overview
Nikolas Matinpalo is an undrafted defenseman who has carved out a role as a defensive-minded blueliner over three NHL seasons. Standing 6'3" and 213 pounds, the 27-year-old has appeared in 95 career games, registering only 9 points (1 goal, 8 assists), which highlights his primary focus away from offensive production.
His value largely stems from his play in his own zone, as evidenced by a +0.5 GAR in even-strength defense. However, his overall impact this season has been negative, marked by a -1.6 GAR across 50 games where he recorded 5 assists but no goals, suggesting he typically provides marginal value with a recent downturn.
Player Profile
| Position | Defenseman |
|---|---|
| Team | Ottawa Senators |
| Shoots / Catches | R |
| Height | 6'3" |
| Weight | 213 lb |
2025-26 Season Stats
| GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | Shots | S% | TOI/GP | CF% | xG | Game Score | GAR | WAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 0 | 5 | 5 | -1 | 16 | 37 | 0.0% | 15:38 | 42.9% | 1.9 | 0.1 | -2.2 | -0.50 |
GAR Component Breakdown
| Even-Strength Offense | Even-Strength Defense | Power-Play Offense | Shorthanded Defense |
|---|---|---|---|
| -0.6 | +1.5 | -0.0 | -0.0 |
League percentile rank: points 6th, GAR 20th, WAR 20th (100th = league leader).
Career by Season (Regular Season)
| Season | GP | G | A | P | GAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 50 | 0 | 5 | 5 | -2.2 |
| 2024-25 | 41 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -1.1 |
| 2023-24 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
Analysis
In the 2025-26 season Nikolas Matinpalo has been worth -2.2 Goals Above Replacement, which ranks in the 20th percentile leaguewide.
His value is driven primarily by even-strength defense (+1.5 GAR), while his even-strength offense grades below replacement (-0.6).
Across 3 tracked seasons his GAR peaked at 0.0 in 2023-24.
All figures are model outputs from Hockey Alchemy. Learn how the value metrics are built on the methodology page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Nikolas Matinpalo's GAR this season?
Nikolas Matinpalo has been worth -2.2 Goals Above Replacement (GAR) in the 2025-26 season, in the 20th percentile of NHL players.
How many points does Nikolas Matinpalo have this season?
Nikolas Matinpalo has 0 goals and 5 assists for 5 points in 50 games this season.
Is Nikolas Matinpalo a good defenseman?
Nikolas Matinpalo ranks in the 20th percentile among NHL skaters by GAR (-2.2) in the 2025-26 season.