David
Gustafsson
C · PIT · Defensive · Above average
- PAL
- 62
- WAR
- -0.1
- Value
- 78
- PTS
- 6
2024-25№ 434 / 596
David Gustafsson (Pittsburgh Penguins) stats and profile: offensive production, ice time, advanced stats, WAR and PAL rating.
David Gustafsson
HEIGHT : 191 cm · WEIGHT : 95 kg · SHOOTS : L
Born : April 10, 2000 · Tingsryd, Sweden
Drafted : 2018 · WPG · round 2, pick #60
Contract : $850,000 · 2026-27 → 2026-27 · Standard Contract · UFA
NHL record
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | Winnipeg Jets | 36 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 7 |
| 2023-24 | Winnipeg Jets | 39 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 0 |
| 2022-23 | Winnipeg Jets | 46 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| 2021-22 | Winnipeg Jets | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020-21 | Winnipeg Jets | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019-20 | Winnipeg Jets | 22 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| NHL totals | 149 | 6 | 14 | 20 | 13 | |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | Winnipeg Jets | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2023-24 | Winnipeg Jets | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 2022-23 | Winnipeg Jets | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Playoff totals | 11 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
David Gustafsson: our analysis
2024-25 season: 36 GP, 2 G, 4 A, 6 PTS, +10 +/-, 8:59 TOI. WAR -0.1 (434th of 596) · PAL 62, above average.
In 2024-25, David Gustafsson, 26, posts a PAL Rating of 62 out of 100 (above average), and his WAR of -0.1 ranks 434th among 596 regulars, in the bottom half.
His strengths: possession (90, among the best in the league) and defense (85, among the best in the league). On the other hand, shooting (19, well below average) and offense (24, well below average) hold him back.
Breaking down his WAR (goals above average), his biggest contribution: EV defense (+0.3); his biggest cost: finishing (-1.1).
A clear step forward: his PAL went from 25 in 2023-24 to 62; his WAR, though, went from 0.1 to -0.1.
Contract-wise, his Value score of 78 (very good contract) weighs his output against what he costs: 50 is what that salary should buy.
David Gustafsson's story
Raised in Tingsryd, David Gustafsson worked his way through local programs before joining HV71’s junior system and breaking into the senior squad as a 17-year-old in 2017–18. That rookie SHL season saw him score six goals and finish with 12 points across 45 games, an early sign that he could compete at a high level in Sweden’s top league.
Gustafsson stayed with HV71 for 2018–19, his second full SHL campaign, and recorded two goals and 12 points in 36 games. His play in Sweden drew NHL attention and led to Winnipeg selecting him 60th overall in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, paving the way for his move to North America.
Winnipeg signed him to a three-year entry-level contract on 13 June 2019. He made his NHL debut on 15 October 2019 with the Jets and scored his first NHL goal on 27 November 2019 against the San Jose Sharks. Following the Jets’ exit from the 2020 playoffs, Gustafsson returned to Sweden on loan, joining Tingsryds AIF on 27 August 2020 while awaiting the delayed 2020–21 North American season.
Gustafsson remained within the professional ranks over the next seasons until a trade reshaped his path: on 29 June 2026 the Winnipeg Jets traded him to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Jack St. Ivany. As a restricted free agent, he agreed to a one-year, two-way contract extension with Pittsburgh on 5 July 2026 for the 2026–27 season.
A centre with experience in both the SHL and the NHL environment, Gustafsson’s development has hinged on steady minutes at each level and international appearances for Sweden’s junior selections. His career so far reflects gradual adaptation from junior ranks to the professional game in Europe and North America.
Facts drawn from Wikipédia, told in our own words.
Advanced stats
- TOI/GP
- 8:59
- PP TOI/GP
- 0:01
- SH TOI/GP
- 0:13
- Pts/GP
- 0.17
- EV points
- 6
- Hits
- 19
- Blocks
- 18
- Takeaways
- 2
- Corsi % (SAT)
- 51.3 %
- Off. zone starts
- 16.4 %
- Faceoffs
- 50.0 %
Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)
2026-27 projection
Projected points
5between 0 and 17 (80% range)
- Goals
- 2
- Assists
- 3
- Games
- 14
So far: 0 pts in 0 games. The team has played 18 of 84 games. Projected pace: 0.35 pts per game.
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
Slightly up
- Points per game: 0.18 in 23-24, 0.17 in 24-25
- PAL Rating: 25 → 62
Outlook, age included
↗ Slightly upAge 26: 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, 2024-25
All ratings →Fourteen ratings from 0 to 100 drawn from data, never by hand: 75 = established NHL player, 95+ = elite.
OV · OverallConfidence 53 %
69
Depth
- SK
- Skating
- 66
- Confidence 73 %
- ST
- Strength
- 90
- Confidence 58 %
- EN
- Endurance
- 40
- Confidence 75 %
- DU
- Durability
- 51
- Confidence 73 %
- CK
- Checking
- 74
- Confidence 58 %
- FG
- Fighting
- 81
- Confidence 43 %
- DI
- Discipline
- 78
- Confidence 58 %
- FO
- Faceoffs
- 77
- Confidence 60 %
- PA
- Passing
- 70
- Confidence 53 %
- SC
- Scoring
- 65
- Confidence 53 %
- DF
- Defense
- 85
- Confidence 48 %
- PS
- Penalty shot
- 76
- Confidence 0 %
- EX
- Experience
- 64
- Confidence 100 %
Why these ratings?Hide details
SK — Skating66
- Top speed (35 %)35.7 · 68
- Bursts > 20 mph /60 (30 %)7.175 · 78
- Distance /60 (20 %)16.3 · 70
- Speed consistency (15 %)33.1 · 51
ST — Strength90
- Contact absorbed /60 (50 %)6.49 · 92
- Body mass (50 %)0.574 · 83
EN — Endurance40
- Ice time per game (45 %)11.4 · 46
- Total ice time (20 %)308 · 35
- Shift length (15 %)42 · 62
- Lowest recent ice time per game (15 %)10.2 · 48
- Special-teams time per game (5 %)1.37 · 59
DU — Durability51
- Share of games played (100 %)0.621 · 51
CK — Checking74
- Hits /60 (70 %)4.202 · 76
- Lowest seasonal rate (20 %)3.5 · 76
- Season volume (10 %)2.944 · 55
FG — Fighting81
- Fights per 82 games (100 %)0.937 · 81
DI — Discipline78
- Net penalty value /60 (50 %)0.026 · 77
- Penalties taken /60 (30 %)0.404 · 86
- Penalties drawn /60 (20 %)0.557 · 63
FO — Faceoffs77
- Faceoff % (85 %)50.8 · 78
- Faceoffs /60 (15 %)36.6 · 72
PA — Passing70
- Primary assists /60 (40 %)0.589 · 71
- Secondary assists /60 (20 %)0.413 · 70
- Offensive creation (RAPM) (20 %)-0.016 · 68
- Power-play points /60 (10 %)4.742 · 79
- Assist consistency (10 %)0.388 · 68
SC — Scoring65
- Goals /60 (25 %)0.609 · 63
- Individual xG /60 (20 %)0.676 · 67
- Finishing (goals − xG per shot) (20 %)-0.249 · 71
- High-danger chances /60 (15 %)0.997 · 66
- xG per shot (10 %)0.08 · 70
- Shot attempts /60 (10 %)11.7 · 70
DF — Defense85
- RAPM defense /60 (35 %)0.006 · 74
- Relative xG against (20 %)-0.276 · 88
- On-ice xG against /60 (15 %)2.271 · 93
- Penalty kill /60 (10 %)0.038 · 81
- Takeaways − giveaways /60 (10 %)-0.54 · 84
- Shot attempts against /60 (5 %)54.8 · 92
- Blocked shots /60 (5 %)3.269 · 83
PS — Penalty shot76
- Shootouts (60 %)32.7 · 76
- Penalty shots (40 %)29.3 · 76
EX — Experience64
- Career regular-season games (65 %)71
- Career playoff games (25 %)47
- NHL seasons (10 %)66
OV — Overall69
- SC · Scoring (20 %)65
- PA · Passing (20 %)70
- DF · Defense (20 %)85
- SK · Skating (12 %)66
- FO · Faceoffs (10 %)77
- EN · Endurance (8 %)40
- DI · Discipline (5 %)78
- ST · Strength (3 %)90
- CK · Checking (2 %)74
| Season | OV | SK | SC | DF |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 69 | 66 | 65 | 85 |
| 2023-24 | 65 | 69 | 60 | 78 |
| 2022-23 | 60 | 65 | 52 | 76 |
The bars show confidence (sample size), not player quality. — : not enough data, not a zero. Engine version 1.0.
WAR and PAL ratings, 2024-25
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
-0.1
wins above replacement
434 of 596
PAL Rating
62/ 100
Performance · Above average
159 of 451 at the position
Value Rating
78/ 100
Very good contract
0.84 M$ · expected PAL 30
ProfileDefensiveValue comes mostly from defense
- Offense
- 35
- Defense
- 87
See full detailsHide details
- Offense
- 24
- Creation
- 32
- Shooting
- 19
- Possession
- 90
- Defense
- 85
- Discipline
- 42
- Power play
- 41
- Penalty kill
- 37
From 0 to 100; 50 is the average player at the same position, adjusted for ice time.
| Season | Team | WAR | PAL | Value | Cap hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | WPG | -0.1 | 62 | 78 | 0.84 M$ |
| 2023-24 | WPG | 0.1 | 25 | 41 | 0.78 M$ |
| 2022-23 | WPG | -0.4 | 20 | 35 | 0.78 M$ |
Hockey IQ, 2024-25
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
39/ 100
Below average
better than 39% of forwards, offense and defense combined
Offensive IQ
24/ 100
Below average
passing, shots, puck
Defensive IQ
55/ 100
Average
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, 242 of 399 forwards.
See full detailsHide details
Offense
- Playmaking passes
- 37
- Shot selection
- 27
- Penalties drawn
- 12
- Puck management
- 93
Defense
- Takeaways
- 7
- Discipline
- 81
- Safe zone exits
- 66
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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | WPG | 39 | 24 | 55 |
| 2023-24 | WPG | 61 | 20 | 85 |
| 2022-23 | WPG | 37 | 22 | 61 |
WAR, 2024-25
How it's calculated →Wins added to the team, compared with a replacement-level player called up from the AHL.
-0.1
wins above replacement
-0.5 to 0.3 — 90% interval
434 of 596 forwards
-0.3 goals above replacement
Full leaderboard →See full detailsHide details
- EV offense
- -0.3
- EV defense
- +0.3
- Power play
- 0.0
- Penalty kill
- +0.0
- Shooting
- -1.1
- Penalties
- 0.0
- Average → replacement
- +0.8
In goals.
| Season | Team | GP | WAR | 90% interval | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | WPG | 35 | -0.1 | -0.5 to 0.3 | 434/596 |
| 2023-24 | WPG | 39 | 0.1 | -0.2 to 0.4 | 333/608 |
| 2022-23 | WPG | 46 | -0.4 | -0.9 to -0.2 | 558/617 |
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
- 135.8 km/h40th percentileleague avg. 135.1 km/h
- Top skating speed
- 35.6 km/h43rd percentileleague avg. 35.7 km/h
- Bursts over 20 mph, season
- 3435th percentileleague avg. 76
- Offensive zone time
- 40.4 %27th percentileleague avg. 42.3 %
See full detailsHide details
- Total distance, season
- 85.2 km30th percentileleague avg. 204.5 km
- Distance, single-game high
- 3.24 km13th percentileleague avg. 4.67 km
- Offensive zone at 5v5
- 40.7 %41st percentileleague avg. 41.3 %
- Neutral zone time
- 17.2 %14th percentileleague avg. 17.8 %
- Defensive zone time
- 42.4 %20th percentileleague avg. 39.8 %
Shooting
| Shots on goal | Goals | Shooting % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All | 3030th percentile | 226th percentile | 6.7 %2nd percentile |
| High danger | 928th percentile | 230th percentile | 22.2 %58th percentile |
| Mid range | 830th percentile | 00th percentile | 0.0 %0th percentile |
| Long range | 539th percentile | 00th percentile | 0.0 %0th percentile |
Shots on goal by zone
2024-2025 regular season. Measured by puck and player tracking chips; the percentile ranks the player within the league.
Last 5 games
| Date | Opponent | G | A | PTS | +/- | TOI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 27, 2025 | @ STL | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 8:58 |
| April 24, 2025 | @STL | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8:33 |
| April 21, 2025 | vsSTL | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4:28 |
| April 19, 2025 | vsSTL | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7:12 |
| April 16, 2025 | vs ANA | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10:17 |
David Gustafsson: frequently asked questions
How many goals does David Gustafsson have in 2024-25?
David Gustafsson has 2 goals and 6 points (4 assists) in 36 games in 2024-25.
How old is David Gustafsson?
David Gustafsson is 26 years old: he was born on April 11, 2000.
How tall is David Gustafsson, and how much does he weigh?
David Gustafsson is 6'3" (191 cm) and weighs 209 lb (95 kg).
Where is David Gustafsson from?
Sweden: David Gustafsson was born in Tingsryd, Sweden.
What team does David Gustafsson play for?
David Gustafsson plays for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the NHL, at C, wearing number 13.
Is David Gustafsson injured?
No: David Gustafsson is not on the latest NHL injury report. This answer is updated throughout the season.
How good is David Gustafsson?
David Gustafsson produced -0.1 wins above replacement (WAR) in 2024-25, 434th of 596 players at his position in the NHL. His PAL rating is 62 out of 100: above average for his position.
How much does David Gustafsson make?
David Gustafsson earns $835K for the 2024-25 season. His Value Rating is 78 out of 100 (very good contract): it measures the on-field return for that salary, compared with players at his position.
When does David Gustafsson's contract end?
David Gustafsson's contract runs through the 2026-27 season; he will then be an unrestricted free agent.
Is David Gustafsson overpaid?
No, he gives more than he costs. His Value rating is 78 out of 100 (very good contract), where 50 is the output expected for his salary, compared with players at his position.
Is David Gustafsson a top-10 player at his position?
No: by WAR, he ranks 434th of 596 players at his position in the NHL in 2024-25. Our comparison tool puts him side by side with any other player.
Is David Gustafsson getting better?
Yes: his PAL rating went from 25 in 2023-24 to 62 in 2024-25 (out of 100, 50 = average player at his position).
What are David Gustafsson's career stats?
Over his NHL career, David Gustafsson has 149 games, 6 goals, 14 assists and 20 points. His best season: 2023-24, with 7 points in 39 games.
Where was David Gustafsson drafted?
David Gustafsson was drafted 60th overall (round 2) by Winnipeg Jets in 2018.
How does David Gustafsson perform in the playoffs?
In the playoffs, David Gustafsson has 11 games and 2 points in his career. His pace (0.18 points per game) is similar to his regular-season pace (0.13).
Is David Gustafsson a good fantasy pick?
Probably not, except in deep leagues: our projection has him at 5 points in 2026-27, or 0.36 points per game.
What is David Gustafsson's nationality?
David Gustafsson is Swedish.
How many points is David Gustafsson projected to score in 2026-27?
Our projection has him at 5 points in 14 games in 2026-27 (0 to 17 points, 80% interval), based on his recent seasons, age and role.
See also: his Pittsburgh Penguins teammates
Full roster →
NHL.com ↗ · Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)