What is Blocked Shots?

The number of times a player uses their body or stick to stop a shot before it reaches the goalie.

What this tells us

When this player is on the ice, his team is stopping more incoming shots than they're allowing through. A player who blocks a lot of shots is either playing a heavy defensive role, positioning himself well in front of the net, or his team is under heavy pressure. Higher blocks often signal a team fighting to keep the puck out of dangerous areas.

Limitations

Blocked shots don't tell you *why* a shot was blocked — whether it was good positioning, a desperate dive, or the opponent taking a low-percentage chance from distance. A player on a team that's constantly defending will rack up blocks even if his positioning is mediocre. Also, blocked shots aren't recorded consistently across leagues and eras, so historical comparisons can be unreliable.

Example

A defenseman playing heavy minutes in a shutdown role might post 3–5 blocks per 60 minutes of ice time. A forward on an offensive line might average 1–2 per 60.