NHL EDGE stats behind Geekie's elite goal-scoring for Bruins

NHL.com's fantasy staff continues to cover the latest trends and storylines in the League through the lens of NHL EDGE puck and player tracker stats. Today, we look at the advanced metrics behind Boston Bruins forward Morgan Geekie's elite goal-scoring.

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Morgan Geekie has quietly been the best goal scorer in the NHL this calendar year and, with robust advanced stats, has emerged as a surprise Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy contender this season.

The 27-year-old ranks second in the NHL in goals (22), two behind Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche (24), and is on a 60-goal pace that would make him the thrd in Bruins franchise history to reach that total in a single season, joining Phil Esposito (four times) and David Pastrnak. Geekie leads the entire NHL in regular-season goals since Jan. 1 (47).

Geekie, who was the 67th pick in the 2017 NHL Draft by the Carolina Hurricanes and also played for the Seattle Kraken prior to signing with the Bruins in 2023, combined for 39 goals over his first 256 NHL games from 2019-20 to 2023-24. Then, despite the Bruins missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season, Geekie had a breakout performance with NHL career highs in goals (33), assists (24) and points (57 in 77 games) playing mostly on a line with Pastrnak (106 points; tied for third in League).

This season, he has taken his game to new heights and even further elevated his play since the recent injury to Pastrnak, who hasn’t played since Nov. 26. Geekie has nine points (five goals, four assists) over the five games Pastrnak has missed, including a span of three straight multipoint games. Thanks to Geekie’s consistent production, the Bruins have not only emerged as a postseason contender under new coach Marco Sturm but also are near the top of the Atlantic Division.

Here are some underlying metrics storylines behind Geekie’s goal-scoring prowess:

1. Shot speed

Geekie has the hardest shot in the entire NHL (103.03 miles per hour) and is tied for the most 100-plus mph shot attempts (two) this season. The only forward with more 90-plus mph shot attempts than Geekie (11; tied with Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals) this season is Tage Thompson of the Buffalo Sabres (17).

Geekie is also a standout in average shot speed, ranking in the 94th percentile among forwards (62.12 mph; NHL average at position: 53.60 mph).

2. Shots by location

Geekie ranks in the 85th percentile among forwards or higher in each of the three shots by location categories and also each of the three goals by location categories. His totals in each category are listed below (with percentile ranks among forwards):

• High-danger goals: 8 (94th percentile)
• High-danger shots on goal: 27 (89th percentile)
• Midrange goals: 10 (99th percentile; tied for League lead)
• Midrange shots on goal: 28 (92nd percentile)
• Long-range goals: 3 (99th percentile; tied for forward lead)
• Long-range shots on goal: 12 (96th percentile)

Geekie is one midrange goal away from matching his total in that category from all of last season (11; 94th percentile).

3. Goals off the rush

Per NHL EDGE IQ, Geekie is tied with Bo Horvat of the New York Islanders for the League lead in goals scored off the rush (nine) on inferenced shot attempts (excludes shots over 60 feet from goal, below the goal line or against an empty net). NHL EDGE IQ defines goals off the rush as goals that occur within five seconds of the puck crossing the offensive blue line.

Seven of those nine goals have come immediately after a pass crossing the meridian (middle of ice perpendicular to center redline) in the offensive zone. Pastrnak, when healthy, has been a big part of Geekie’s goal-scoring leaps over the past two seasons. Since the start of last season, 30 of Geekie’s goals have been assisted by Pastrnak (with 24 of those being primary assists). Pastrnak leads the NHL in primary assists over the past two seasons combined (35).

The last “Rocket” Richard Trophy winner who was selected outside the first round of his NHL Draft was Jonathan Cheechoo of the San Jose Sharks in 2005-06. Geekie, who's going toe-to-toe with MacKinnon in the goal-scoring race into the month of December, is becoming more of a household name with each passing goal.

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