No one could've imagined the progression we saw at the end of this season from this youngster.
When rookie defenseman Ryan Ufko entered the Nashville Predators lineup in early March, many assumed it was to shake up the at-the-time slumping blueline. Ufko quickly proved that he wasn't just a call-up, but that he was a roster lock.
In his first game of the season, the second of his career, the former 4th-round pick tallied his first career point, a secondary assist on Filip Forsberg's power play goal. Two games later, Ufko scored his first career goal in ridiculous fashion, dishing out three Seattle players with impressive puck handling. It was instances like this that gave Preds fans a sense of déjà vu, reminding them of franchise legend Ryan Ellis.
Ufko not only shares first names with Ellis, but also his skill
In his prime, Ryan Ellis was one of the best offensive defensemen in the NHL. A consistent 30+-point scorer for Nashville, Ellis drove the offense with his vision from the blueline and his hard slapshot. He was a prominent figure and a driving factor in the 2017 Stanley Cup Finals run, scoring five goals and 13 points in 22 games. Consistent injury issues limited the time he had to play, but he put in his all whenever he got the opportunity to play.
Looking at Ufko, it's hard not to notice the similarities. He's primarily an offensive defenseman, as seen by his point totals. In 18 games, Ufko scored two goals and 11 points while holding a neutral plus/minus. Given he only plays just under 14 minutes a night, his numbers could be even higher.
The advanced stats don't lie. Per MoneyPuck, Ufko has above average power play numbers. While they aren't eye-popping, they're better than the average comparable defender. His single defensive zone giveaway on the man-advantage is considered an elite statistic. He's also rarely giving up the puck to the opposition, only doing so two times. In other words, Ufko's either applying glue to his stick before the game or he's a talent puck handler.
5 on 5 is where Ufko thrives. At 1.6 goals above expected, Ufko found the net in areas most defenders wouldn't. His 18.2% shot accuracy is the second highest on the Preds. We can't be too conclusive though, since it's a small sample size, but his on-ice presence proves it to be rightly accurate.
Where the Ufko-Ellis comparison really comes to play is their size. Both defensemen are 6-foot or below, and in a league where the average defenseman is 6-foot-2 or above, they still found ways to produce at high levels. Along with the fact that they sneakily enter the offensive zone, they both have a skilled transition game.
We only have 19 games to look at, but from what we've seen, we got a talented defenseman in the making. It isn't crazy to say that Ufko is an opening night roster lock for next season. His potential is through the roof, and the coaching staff knows what he can do. A driver on offense, Ufko isn't leaving anytime soon.
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