Brett
Howden
C · VGK · Balanced · Below average
- PAL
- 33
- WAR
- 0.9
- Value
- 30
- PTS
- 22
2025-26№ 185 / 615
Brett Howden (Vegas Golden Knights) stats and profile: offensive production, ice time, advanced stats, WAR and PAL rating.
Brett Howden
#21CPlays: Winger · 12% of faceoffs
Vegas Golden Knights
HEIGHT : 188 cm · WEIGHT : 93 kg · SHOOTS : L
Born : March 28, 1998 · Oakbank, Canada
Drafted : 2016 · TBL · round 1, pick #27
Contract : $2,500,000 · 2025-26 → 2029-30 · Standard Contract (Extension) · UFA · Signing bonus $2,000,000
NHL record
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | Vegas Golden Knights | 19 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 16 |
| 2025-26 | Vegas Golden Knights | 58 | 12 | 10 | 22 | 41 |
| 2024-25 | Vegas Golden Knights | 80 | 23 | 17 | 40 | 46 |
| 2023-24 | Vegas Golden Knights | 72 | 8 | 11 | 19 | 39 |
| 2022-23 | Vegas Golden Knights | 54 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 55 |
| 2021-22 | Vegas Golden Knights | 47 | 9 | 11 | 20 | 12 |
| 2020-21 | New York Rangers | 42 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 11 |
| 2019-20 | New York Rangers | 70 | 9 | 10 | 19 | 28 |
| 2018-19 | New York Rangers | 66 | 6 | 17 | 23 | 14 |
| NHL totals | 508 | 79 | 92 | 171 | 262 | |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | Vegas Golden Knights | 22 | 14 | 4 | 18 | 6 |
| 2024-25 | Vegas Golden Knights | 11 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| 2023-24 | Vegas Golden Knights | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 2022-23 | Vegas Golden Knights | 22 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 31 |
| 2019-20 | New York Rangers | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Playoff totals | 65 | 23 | 10 | 33 | 45 | |
Honours
- 🏆 Stanley Cuponce · 2022-23
Brett Howden: our analysis
2025-26 season: 58 GP, 12 G, 10 A, 22 PTS, -9 +/-, 14:54 TOI. WAR 0.9 (185th of 615) · PAL 33, below average.
In 2025-26, Brett Howden, 28, posts a PAL Rating of 33 out of 100 (below average), and his WAR of 0.9 ranks 185th among 615 regulars, in the top half.
His strengths: penalty kill (68, above average) and possession (65, above average). On the other hand, creation (16, well below average) and offense (31, below average) hold him back.
Breaking down his WAR (goals above average), his biggest contribution: finishing (+3.0); his biggest cost: EV defense (-0.6).
A season in line with 2024-25 (PAL of 35); his WAR went from 0.5 to 0.9.
Contract-wise, his Value score of 30 (poor return) weighs his output against what he costs: 50 is what that salary should buy.
Brett Howden's story
Growing up in Oakbank, Manitoba, Brett Howden rose through Moose Jaw’s junior ranks, becoming a steady presence for the Warriors. In his rookie WHL season he posted 46 points in 68 games and earned the club’s rookie and most valuable player distinctions. The following year he registered 24 goals and 40 assists in 68 games, then added 15 points in 10 playoff contests, including a four-game run with at least one point in each matchup against Prince Albert.
Selected 27th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, Howden’s leadership track record continued at Moose Jaw when he was named the club’s 31st captain on September 30, 2016. He had also captained Canada’s under-18 squad at the Ivan Hlinka tournament. Howden signed a three-year entry-level contract with Tampa Bay on December 28, 2016, setting the stage for his professional debut.
After Moose Jaw’s 2017 playoff exit, Howden joined the Syracuse Crunch on an amateur tryout and made his professional debut in April 2017, scoring his first pro goal on April 8 and recording his first assist on April 12. On February 26, 2018, he was included in a multi-player trade that sent him to the New York Rangers. On July 17, 2021, Vegas acquired Howden in exchange for Nick DeSimone and a 2022 fourth-round pick; he played a role in the Golden Knights’ 2023 Stanley Cup run, contributing five goals and five assists in the postseason.
Internationally, Howden was named to the WHL roster for the 2016 Canada/Russia series and attended Canada’s World Junior camps at the end of 2016 and in December 2017. The younger brother of 2010 first-round pick Quinton Howden, Brett is a centre known for his leadership and dependable two-way game—qualities that have accompanied him from junior captaincy to a steady NHL role.
Facts drawn from Wikipédia, told in our own words.
Advanced stats
- TOI/GP
- 15:26
- PP TOI/GP
- 0:09
- SH TOI/GP
- 1:03
- Pts/GP
- 0.42
- EV points
- 8
- Hits
- 23
- Blocks
- 11
- Takeaways
- 5
- Corsi % (SAT)
- 47.1 %
- Off. zone starts
- 36.7 %
- Faceoffs
- 50.0 %
Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)
2026-27 projection
Projected points
29between 14 and 44 (80% range)
- Goals
- 16
- Assists
- 14
- Games
- 73
So far: 8 pts in 19 games. The team has played 19 of 84 games. Projected pace: 0.39 pts per game (last season: 0.38).
The projection follows last season's pace. Tested on 2,265 player seasons (2022-23 to 2025-26): average miss of 9 points over 82 games; for players at 0.9 points per game and up, it ran 5 points high on average.
Trend
Stable
- Points per game: 0.26 in 23-24, 0.38 in 25-26
- PAL Rating: 35 → 33
Outlook, age included
→ StableAge 28: prime years
This is only a projection. It knows nothing about injuries, trades or role changes; one player in five finishes outside the range.
Player ratings, 2025-26
All ratings →Fourteen ratings from 0 to 100 drawn from data, never by hand: 75 = established NHL player, 95+ = elite.
OV · OverallConfidence 78 %
72
Established NHL
- SK
- Skating
- 82
- Confidence 73 %
- ST
- Strength
- 84
- Confidence 82 %
- EN
- Endurance
- 71
- Confidence 80 %
- DU
- Durability
- 72
- Confidence 77 %
- CK
- Checking
- 81
- Confidence 82 %
- FG
- Fighting
- 83
- Confidence 62 %
- DI
- Discipline
- 67
- Confidence 82 %
- FO
- Faceoffs
- 77
- Confidence 80 %
- PA
- Passing
- 62
- Confidence 78 %
- SC
- Scoring
- 75
- Confidence 78 %
- DF
- Defense
- 72
- Confidence 75 %
- PS
- Penalty shot
- 76
- Confidence 0 %
- EX
- Experience
- 84
- Confidence 100 %
Why these ratings?Hide details
SK — Skating82
- Top speed (35 %)36.6 · 82
- Bursts > 20 mph /60 (30 %)8.845 · 84
- Distance /60 (20 %)16.4 · 76
- Speed consistency (15 %)35.7 · 79
ST — Strength84
- Contact absorbed /60 (50 %)4.94 · 81
- Body mass (50 %)0.192 · 80
EN — Endurance71
- Ice time per game (45 %)14.3 · 72
- Total ice time (20 %)850 · 70
- Shift length (15 %)44 · 70
- Lowest recent ice time per game (15 %)13.1 · 71
- Special-teams time per game (5 %)1.656 · 63
DU — Durability72
- Share of games played (100 %)0.798 · 72
CK — Checking81
- Hits /60 (70 %)6.168 · 81
- Lowest seasonal rate (20 %)5.249 · 81
- Season volume (10 %)4.615 · 80
FG — Fighting83
- Fights per 82 games (100 %)1.092 · 83
DI — Discipline67
- Net penalty value /60 (50 %)0.002 · 68
- Penalties taken /60 (30 %)1.004 · 58
- Penalties drawn /60 (20 %)1.018 · 86
FO — Faceoffs77
- Faceoff % (85 %)50.5 · 77
- Faceoffs /60 (15 %)31.8 · 69
PA — Passing62
- Primary assists /60 (40 %)0.482 · 60
- Secondary assists /60 (20 %)0.395 · 68
- Offensive creation (RAPM) (20 %)-0.046 · 63
- Power-play points /60 (10 %)4.629 · 77
- Assist consistency (10 %)0.327 · 66
SC — Scoring75
- Goals /60 (25 %)0.877 · 78
- Individual xG /60 (20 %)0.695 · 68
- Finishing (goals − xG per shot) (20 %)0.378 · 83
- High-danger chances /60 (15 %)1.111 · 68
- xG per shot (10 %)0.083 · 77
- Shot attempts /60 (10 %)10.3 · 62
DF — Defense72
- RAPM defense /60 (35 %)-0.045 · 68
- Relative xG against (20 %)0.026 · 70
- On-ice xG against /60 (15 %)2.488 · 81
- Penalty kill /60 (10 %)-0.034 · 70
- Takeaways − giveaways /60 (10 %)-1.282 · 77
- Shot attempts against /60 (5 %)56.7 · 80
- Blocked shots /60 (5 %)2.846 · 78
PS — Penalty shot76
- Shootouts (60 %)32.7 · 76
- Penalty shots (40 %)26.7 · 76
EX — Experience84
- Career regular-season games (65 %)87
- Career playoff games (25 %)79
- NHL seasons (10 %)75
OV — Overall72
- SC · Scoring (20 %)75
- PA · Passing (20 %)62
- DF · Defense (20 %)72
- SK · Skating (12 %)82
- FO · Faceoffs (10 %)77
- EN · Endurance (8 %)71
- DI · Discipline (5 %)67
- ST · Strength (3 %)84
- CK · Checking (2 %)81
| Season | OV | SK | SC | DF |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 72 | 82 | 75 | 72 |
| 2024-25 | 69 | 76 | 75 | 71 |
| 2023-24 | 56 | 73 | 60 | 69 |
| 2022-23 | 64 | 71 | 63 | 77 |
The bars show confidence (sample size), not player quality. — : not enough data, not a zero. Engine version 1.0.
WAR and PAL ratings, 2025-26
How we rate →PAL Rating scores performance from 0 to 100 against players at the same position (50 = average player), starting from the player's strength, offensive or defensive. Value Rating compares that performance with what the player costs: 50 means paid what the play is worth.
WAR
0.9
wins above replacement
185 of 615
PAL Rating
33/ 100
Performance · Below average
305 of 476 at the position
Value Rating
30/ 100
Poor return
2.50 M$ · expected PAL 51
ProfileBalancedNeither end dominates
- Offense
- 35
- Defense
- 44
See full detailsHide details
- Offense
- 31
- Creation
- 16
- Shooting
- 53
- Possession
- 65
- Defense
- 36
- Discipline
- 55
- Power play
- 49
- Penalty kill
- 68
From 0 to 100; 50 is the average player at the same position, adjusted for ice time.
| Season | Team | WAR | PAL | Value | Cap hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | VGK | 0.9 | 33 | 30 | 2.50 M$ |
| 2024-25 | VGK | 0.5 | 35 | 37 | 1.90 M$ |
| 2023-24 | VGK | -0.6 | 5 | 6 | 1.90 M$ |
| 2022-23 | VGK | -0.3 | 17 | 18 | 1.50 M$ |
Hockey IQ, 2025-26
Rankings and method →The quality of the player's decisions with and against the puck at 5-on-5, against regulars at the same position (50 = average). PAL measures output; IQ measures how the player plays.
Overall IQ
4/ 100
Low
better than 4% of forwards, offense and defense combined
Offensive IQ
58/ 100
Average
passing, shots, puck
Defensive IQ
1/ 100
Low
takeaways, discipline, own zone
Overall IQ isn't an average of the two scores: it's the player's rank with offense and defense combined, 405 of 424 forwards.
See full detailsHide details
Offense
- Playmaking passes
- 10
- Shot selection
- 69
- Penalties drawn
- 90
- Puck management
- 16
Defense
- Takeaways
- 55
- Discipline
- 4
- Safe zone exits
- 6
Percentiles: 80 means better than 80% of regulars at the same position. Play without the puck (positioning, coverage) isn't measured: the NHL doesn't publish that data.
| Season | Team | IQ | Off. | Def. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | VGK | 4 | 58 | 1 |
| 2024-25 | VGK | 64 | 51 | 70 |
| 2023-24 | VGK | 19 | 17 | 37 |
| 2022-23 | VGK | 29 | 82 | 8 |
WAR, 2025-26
How it's calculated →Wins added to the team, compared with a replacement-level player called up from the AHL.
0.9
wins above replacement
0.1 to 1.9 — 90% interval
185 of 615 forwards
+4.5 goals above replacement
Full leaderboard →See full detailsHide details
- EV offense
- -0.5
- EV defense
- -0.6
- Power play
- -0.0
- Penalty kill
- -0.0
- Shooting
- +3.0
- Penalties
- +0.3
- Average → replacement
- +2.2
In goals.
| Season | Team | GP | WAR | 90% interval | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | VGK | 59 | 0.9 | 0.1 to 1.9 | 185/615 |
| 2024-25 | VGK | 77 | 0.5 | -0.7 to 0.9 | 236/596 |
| 2023-24 | VGK | 72 | -0.6 | -1.4 to 0.0 | 568/608 |
| 2022-23 | VGK | 54 | -0.3 | -1.1 to 0.4 | 542/617 |
Player tracking (NHL EDGE)
League EDGE leaderboards →Speed, shot power, distance covered, time by zone: measured by chips in the puck and shoulder pads. 90th percentile = better than 90% of players.
- Hardest shot
- 128.1 km/h37th percentileleague avg. 130.1 km/h
- Top skating speed
- 35.8 km/h68th percentileleague avg. 35.2 km/h
- Bursts over 20 mph, season
- 5094th percentileleague avg. 21
- Offensive zone time
- 40.4 %30th percentileleague avg. 43.1 %
See full detailsHide details
- Total distance, season
- 73.6 km76th percentileleague avg. 52.2 km
- Distance, single-game high
- 4.53 km49th percentileleague avg. 4.52 km
- Offensive zone at 5v5
- 40.8 %45th percentileleague avg. 42.4 %
- Neutral zone time
- 18.8 %81st percentileleague avg. 16.8 %
- Defensive zone time
- 40.9 %36th percentileleague avg. 40.1 %
Shooting
| Shots on goal | Goals | Shooting % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All | 2561st percentile | 581st percentile | 20.0 %80th percentile |
| High danger | 1485th percentile | 274th percentile | 14.3 %36th percentile |
| Mid range | 656th percentile | 177th percentile | 16.7 %66th percentile |
| Long range | 153rd percentile | 2100th percentile | 200.0 %100th percentile |
Shots on goal by zone
2026-2027 regular season. Measured by puck and player tracking chips; the percentile ranks the player within the league.
Game log, 2026-27
BUF
DET
PIT
BOS
NJD
OTT
CBJ
STL
TBL
CGY
NSH
MIN
LAK
TOR
SEA
VAN
ANA
CHIBrett Howden: frequently asked questions
How many goals does Brett Howden have in 2026-27?
Brett Howden has 5 goals and 8 points (3 assists) in 19 games in 2026-27.
How old is Brett Howden?
Brett Howden is 28 years old: he was born on March 29, 1998.
How tall is Brett Howden, and how much does he weigh?
Brett Howden is 6'2" (188 cm) and weighs 205 lb (93 kg).
Where is Brett Howden from?
Canada: Brett Howden was born in Oakbank, Manitoba, Canada.
What team does Brett Howden play for?
Brett Howden plays for the Vegas Golden Knights in the NHL, at C, wearing number 21.
Is Brett Howden injured?
No: Brett Howden is not on the latest NHL injury report. This answer is updated throughout the season.
How good is Brett Howden?
Brett Howden produced 0.9 wins above replacement (WAR) in 2025-26, 185th of 615 players at his position in the NHL. His PAL rating is 33 out of 100: below average for his position.
How much does Brett Howden make?
Brett Howden earns $2.5M for the 2025-26 season. His Value Rating is 30 out of 100 (poor return): it measures the on-field return for that salary, compared with players at his position.
When does Brett Howden's contract end?
Brett Howden's contract runs through the 2029-30 season; he will then be an unrestricted free agent.
Is Brett Howden overpaid?
Yes, his output falls short of what his salary should buy. His Value rating is 30 out of 100 (poor return), where 50 is the output expected for his salary, compared with players at his position.
Is Brett Howden a top-10 player at his position?
No: by WAR, he ranks 185th of 615 players at his position in the NHL in 2025-26. Our comparison tool puts him side by side with any other player.
Is Brett Howden getting better?
He is holding steady: his PAL rating went from 35 in 2024-25 to 33 in 2025-26 (out of 100, 50 = average player at his position).
How has Brett Howden played lately?
Over his last 10 games, Brett Howden has 2 points (2 goals, 0 assists).
What are Brett Howden's career stats?
Over his NHL career, Brett Howden has 508 games, 79 goals, 92 assists and 171 points. His best season: 2024-25, with 40 points in 80 games.
Where was Brett Howden drafted?
Brett Howden was drafted 27th overall (round 1) by Tampa Bay Lightning in 2016.
Is Brett Howden better at home or on the road?
No real difference: in 2026-27, he averages 0.44 points per game at home (4 in 9 games) and 0.40 on the road (4 in 10 games).
How does Brett Howden perform in the playoffs?
In the playoffs, Brett Howden has 65 games and 33 points in his career. His pace (0.51 points per game) is higher than his regular-season pace (0.34).
Which player is most similar to Brett Howden?
Eric Robinson: he is the player at his position whose PAL profile (the 0-to-100 dimensions) is closest to his in 2025-26.
Eric Robinson's page →Is Brett Howden a good fantasy pick?
Probably not, except in deep leagues: our projection has him at 29 points in 2026-27, or 0.40 points per game.
Does Brett Howden have siblings?
Yes: his brother Quinton Howden (selected 25th overall by the Florida Panthers in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft).
What is Brett Howden's nationality?
Brett Howden is Canadian. Internationally: Canada — led Canada U18 to gold at the 2015 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament.
What awards has Brett Howden won?
Moose Jaw Warriors Rookie of the Year (rookie season 2014–15) ; Moose Jaw Warriors Most Sportsmanlike Player (rookie season 2014–15).
How many championships has Brett Howden won?
1: Stanley Cup 2023 — Vegas Golden Knights.
Where did Brett Howden play before turning pro?
Moose Jaw Warriors (rookie season 2014–15).
How many points is Brett Howden projected to score in 2026-27?
Our projection has him at 29 points in 73 games in 2026-27 (14 to 44 points, 80% interval), based on his recent seasons, age and role.
See also: his Vegas Golden Knights teammates
Full roster →
NHL.com ↗ · Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)