Joel
Eriksson Ek
C · MIN · Balanced · Very good
- PAL
- 76
- WAR
- 0.3
- Value
- 63
- PTS
- 51
2025-26№ 277 / 615
Joel Eriksson Ek (Minnesota Wild) stats and profile: offensive production, ice time, advanced stats, WAR and PAL rating.
Joel Eriksson Ek
#14CPlays: Centre · 86% of faceoffs
Minnesota Wild
HEIGHT : 191 cm · WEIGHT : 94 kg · SHOOTS : L
Born : January 28, 1997 · Karlstad, Sweden
Drafted : 2015 · MIN · round 1, pick #20
Contract : $5,250,000 · 2021-22 → 2028-29 · Standard Contract (Extension) · UFAM-NTC / NMC
NHL record
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | Minnesota Wild | 19 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 14 |
| 2025-26 | Minnesota Wild | 70 | 19 | 32 | 51 | 32 |
| 2024-25 | Minnesota Wild | 46 | 14 | 15 | 29 | 22 |
| 2023-24 | Minnesota Wild | 77 | 30 | 34 | 64 | 60 |
| 2022-23 | Minnesota Wild | 78 | 23 | 38 | 61 | 44 |
| 2021-22 | Minnesota Wild | 77 | 26 | 23 | 49 | 28 |
| 2020-21 | Minnesota Wild | 56 | 19 | 11 | 30 | 20 |
| 2019-20 | Minnesota Wild | 62 | 8 | 21 | 29 | 22 |
| 2018-19 | Minnesota Wild | 58 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 20 |
| 2017-18 | Minnesota Wild | 75 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 22 |
| 2016-17 | Minnesota Wild | 15 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 4 |
| NHL totals | 633 | 161 | 206 | 367 | 288 | |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | Minnesota Wild | 6 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 6 |
| 2024-25 | Minnesota Wild | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| 2022-23 | Minnesota Wild | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021-22 | Minnesota Wild | 6 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 8 |
| 2020-21 | Minnesota Wild | 7 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| 2019-20 | Minnesota Wild | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 2017-18 | Minnesota Wild | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2016-17 | Minnesota Wild | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Playoff totals | 38 | 9 | 9 | 18 | 22 | |
Joel Eriksson Ek: our analysis
2025-26 season: 70 GP, 19 G, 32 A, 51 PTS, +16 +/-, 19:05 TOI. WAR 0.3 (277th of 615) · PAL 76, very good.
In 2025-26, Joel Eriksson Ek, 29, posts a PAL Rating of 76 out of 100 (very good), and his WAR of 0.3 ranks 277th among 615 regulars, in the top half.
His strengths: creation (92, among the best in the league), power play (81, well above average) and defense (69, above average). On the other hand, penalty kill (32, below average) holds him back.
Breaking down his WAR (goals above average), his biggest contribution: EV offense (+1.9); his biggest cost: finishing (-5.8).
A slight dip from 2024-25, when his PAL was 82; his WAR went from 0.3 to 0.3.
Contract-wise, his Value score of 63 (good value) weighs his output against what he costs: 50 is what that salary should buy.
Joel Eriksson Ek's story
Growing up in Karlstad inside a hockey family, Joel Eriksson Ek came through Färjestad BK's junior system and broke into the senior ranks as a teenager during the 2014–15 SHL season. While developing on and off the ice — he attended Karlstad Fria Läroverk during those years — he split time between J18, J20 and the club's top team before attracting international attention.
His stock rose ahead of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, and Minnesota selected him 20th overall in the first round. Although he inked a three-year entry-level deal, Eriksson Ek stayed in Sweden for the 2015–16 campaign, collecting 15 points with Färjestad before moving to North America the following year.
The transition involved stints in both the AHL with the Iowa Wild and the NHL. He made his NHL debut on 22 October 2016 and scored in that first game; within days he set a franchise mark as the first Wild teenager to register three assists in a single contest. Early seasons featured back-and-forth assignments, bottom-six roles and gradual growth into more prominent minutes. With time his two-way play and physicality earned him more responsibility, culminating in a promotion to top-line centre duties after Minnesota lost veteran centres.
On the international stage, Eriksson Ek has worn the Swedish colours at junior and senior levels and won gold at the 2017 IIHF World Championship. Back with the Wild, he became part of notable line combinations—at times linked with Jordan Greenway and Marcus Foligno as the GREEF line—and reached new personal highs in goal production, which preceded a long-term contract extension.
In plain terms, Eriksson Ek’s game rests on dependable defensive instincts, a willingness to play physically, and the capacity to chip in offensively. Coaches have relied on him as a centreman who can neutralize opposition threats while still contributing points for his team.
Facts drawn from Wikipédia, told in our own words.
Advanced stats
- TOI/GP
- 19:56
- PP TOI/GP
- 3:54
- SH TOI/GP
- 1:03
- Pts/GP
- 0.89
- EV points
- 10
- Hits
- 22
- Blocks
- 8
- Takeaways
- 4
- Corsi % (SAT)
- 58.0 %
- Off. zone starts
- 36.7 %
- Faceoffs
- 49.2 %
Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)
2026-27 projection
Projected points
58between 37 and 79 (80% range)
- Goals
- 21
- Assists
- 37
- Games
- 72
So far: 17 pts in 19 games. The team has played 19 of 84 games. Projected pace: 0.77 pts per game (last season: 0.73).
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: 0.83 in 23-24, 0.73 in 25-26
- PAL Rating: 82 → 76
Outlook, age included
→ StableAge 29: 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 83 %
86
High-end
- SK
- Skating
- 66
- Confidence 73 %
- ST
- Strength
- 78
- Confidence 86 %
- EN
- Endurance
- 87
- Confidence 80 %
- DU
- Durability
- 73
- Confidence 77 %
- CK
- Checking
- 79
- Confidence 86 %
- FG
- Fighting
- 64
- Confidence 63 %
- DI
- Discipline
- 77
- Confidence 86 %
- FO
- Faceoffs
- 77
- Confidence 93 %
- PA
- Passing
- 81
- Confidence 83 %
- SC
- Scoring
- 84
- Confidence 83 %
- DF
- Defense
- 80
- Confidence 81 %
- PS
- Penalty shot
- 65
- Confidence 29 %
- EX
- Experience
- 84
- Confidence 100 %
Why these ratings?Hide details
SK — Skating66
- Top speed (35 %)36.2 · 75
- Bursts > 20 mph /60 (30 %)4.635 · 68
- Distance /60 (20 %)15.4 · 48
- Speed consistency (15 %)35.3 · 74
ST — Strength78
- Contact absorbed /60 (50 %)3.719 · 71
- Body mass (50 %)0.435 · 82
EN — Endurance87
- Ice time per game (45 %)17.8 · 86
- Total ice time (20 %)1,281 · 81
- Shift length (15 %)52.1 · 89
- Lowest recent ice time per game (15 %)17.3 · 88
- Special-teams time per game (5 %)4.63 · 97
DU — Durability73
- Share of games played (100 %)0.806 · 73
CK — Checking79
- Hits /60 (70 %)5.2 · 79
- Lowest seasonal rate (20 %)4.787 · 80
- Season volume (10 %)4.673 · 81
FG — Fighting64
- Fights per 82 games (100 %)0.698 · 64
DI — Discipline77
- Net penalty value /60 (50 %)0.028 · 78
- Penalties taken /60 (30 %)0.783 · 66
- Penalties drawn /60 (20 %)0.946 · 83
FO — Faceoffs77
- Faceoff % (85 %)49.1 · 73
- Faceoffs /60 (15 %)58.2 · 94
PA — Passing81
- Primary assists /60 (40 %)0.715 · 77
- Secondary assists /60 (20 %)0.68 · 86
- Offensive creation (RAPM) (20 %)0.127 · 81
- Power-play points /60 (10 %)4.281 · 72
- Assist consistency (10 %)0.582 · 80
SC — Scoring84
- Goals /60 (25 %)0.925 · 80
- Individual xG /60 (20 %)1.128 · 90
- Finishing (goals − xG per shot) (20 %)-1.18 · 51
- High-danger chances /60 (15 %)2.217 · 92
- xG per shot (10 %)0.087 · 86
- Shot attempts /60 (10 %)15.5 · 85
DF — Defense80
- RAPM defense /60 (35 %)0.074 · 81
- Relative xG against (20 %)-0.092 · 77
- On-ice xG against /60 (15 %)2.543 · 78
- Penalty kill /60 (10 %)-0.217 · 57
- Takeaways − giveaways /60 (10 %)-0.655 · 92
- Shot attempts against /60 (5 %)58.5 · 72
- Blocked shots /60 (5 %)2.909 · 79
PS — Penalty shot65
- Shootouts (60 %)31.3 · 62
- Penalty shots (40 %)26.7 · 76
EX — Experience84
- Career regular-season games (65 %)91
- Career playoff games (25 %)69
- NHL seasons (10 %)81
OV — Overall86
- SC · Scoring (20 %)84
- PA · Passing (20 %)81
- DF · Defense (20 %)80
- SK · Skating (12 %)66
- FO · Faceoffs (10 %)77
- EN · Endurance (8 %)87
- DI · Discipline (5 %)77
- ST · Strength (3 %)78
- CK · Checking (2 %)79
| Season | OV | SK | SC | DF |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 86 | 66 | 84 | 80 |
| 2024-25 | 86 | 66 | 86 | 83 |
| 2023-24 | 86 | 64 | 89 | 81 |
| 2022-23 | 88 | 71 | 86 | 86 |
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
0.3
wins above replacement
277 of 615
PAL Rating
76/ 100
Performance · Very good
104 of 476 at the position
Value Rating
63/ 100
Good value
5.25 M$ · expected PAL 64
ProfileBalancedNeither end dominates
- Offense
- 76
- Defense
- 64
See full detailsHide details
- Offense
- 63
- Creation
- 92
- Shooting
- 57
- Possession
- 60
- Defense
- 69
- Discipline
- 53
- Power play
- 81
- Penalty kill
- 32
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 | MIN | 0.3 | 76 | 63 | 5.25 M$ |
| 2024-25 | MIN | 0.3 | 82 | 69 | 5.25 M$ |
| 2023-24 | MIN | 0.7 | 95 | 93 | 5.25 M$ |
| 2022-23 | MIN | -0.0 | 93 | 86 | 5.25 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
83/ 100
Very good
better than 83% of forwards, offense and defense combined
Offensive IQ
86/ 100
Very good
passing, shots, puck
Defensive IQ
54/ 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, 70 of 424 forwards.
See full detailsHide details
Offense
- Playmaking passes
- 26
- Shot selection
- 68
- Penalties drawn
- 73
- Puck management
- 99
Defense
- Takeaways
- 48
- Discipline
- 30
- Safe zone exits
- 87
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 | MIN | 83 | 86 | 54 |
| 2024-25 | MIN | 65 | 88 | 30 |
| 2023-24 | MIN | 90 | 97 | 45 |
| 2022-23 | MIN | 96 | 92 | 89 |
WAR, 2025-26
How it's calculated →Wins added to the team, compared with a replacement-level player called up from the AHL.
0.3
wins above replacement
-1.2 to 1.3 — 90% interval
277 of 615 forwards
+1.5 goals above replacement
Full leaderboard →See full detailsHide details
- EV offense
- +1.9
- EV defense
- +1.1
- Power play
- +1.1
- Penalty kill
- -0.7
- Shooting
- -5.8
- Penalties
- +0.5
- Average → replacement
- +3.4
In goals.
| Season | Team | GP | WAR | 90% interval | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | MIN | 70 | 0.3 | -1.2 to 1.3 | 277/615 |
| 2024-25 | MIN | 43 | 0.3 | -0.4 to 1.2 | 270/596 |
| 2023-24 | MIN | 77 | 0.7 | -0.6 to 2.7 | 185/608 |
| 2022-23 | MIN | 78 | -0.0 | -1.3 to 1.2 | 419/617 |
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
- 140.1 km/h79th percentileleague avg. 130.1 km/h
- Top skating speed
- 35.7 km/h64th percentileleague avg. 35.2 km/h
- Bursts over 20 mph, season
- 2669th percentileleague avg. 21
- Offensive zone time
- 47.9 %97th percentileleague avg. 43.1 %
See full detailsHide details
- Total distance, season
- 92.0 km96th percentileleague avg. 52.2 km
- Distance, single-game high
- 5.94 km89th percentileleague avg. 4.52 km
- Offensive zone at 5v5
- 45.3 %98th percentileleague avg. 42.4 %
- Neutral zone time
- 16.7 %3rd percentileleague avg. 16.8 %
- Defensive zone time
- 35.5 %93rd percentileleague avg. 40.1 %
Shooting
| Shots on goal | Goals | Shooting % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All | 6298th percentile | 687th percentile | 9.7 %30th percentile |
| High danger | 35100th percentile | 386th percentile | 8.6 %17th percentile |
| Mid range | 1283rd percentile | 288th percentile | 16.7 %66th percentile |
| Long range | 797th percentile | 199th percentile | 14.3 %91st 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
🔥 8-game point streak
TBL
SJS
PHI
WSH
NYI
UTA
VAN
SEA
CGY
EDM
CBJ
STL
WPG
VGK
FLA
BUF
BOS
NSHJoel Eriksson Ek: frequently asked questions
How many goals does Joel Eriksson Ek have in 2026-27?
Joel Eriksson Ek has 6 goals and 17 points (11 assists) in 19 games in 2026-27.
How old is Joel Eriksson Ek?
Joel Eriksson Ek is 29 years old: he was born on January 29, 1997.
How tall is Joel Eriksson Ek, and how much does he weigh?
Joel Eriksson Ek is 6'3" (191 cm) and weighs 207 lb (94 kg).
Where is Joel Eriksson Ek from?
Sweden: Joel Eriksson Ek was born in Karlstad, Sweden.
What team does Joel Eriksson Ek play for?
Joel Eriksson Ek plays for the Minnesota Wild in the NHL, at C, wearing number 14.
Is Joel Eriksson Ek injured?
No: Joel Eriksson Ek is not on the latest NHL injury report. This answer is updated throughout the season.
How good is Joel Eriksson Ek?
Joel Eriksson Ek produced 0.3 wins above replacement (WAR) in 2025-26, 277th of 615 players at his position in the NHL. His PAL rating is 76 out of 100: very good for his position.
How much does Joel Eriksson Ek make?
Joel Eriksson Ek earns $5.3M for the 2025-26 season. His Value Rating is 63 out of 100 (good value): it measures the on-field return for that salary, compared with players at his position.
When does Joel Eriksson Ek's contract end?
Joel Eriksson Ek's contract runs through the 2028-29 season; he will then be an unrestricted free agent. It includes a M-NTC / NMC clause.
Is Joel Eriksson Ek overpaid?
No, he gives more than he costs. His Value rating is 63 out of 100 (good value), where 50 is the output expected for his salary, compared with players at his position.
Is Joel Eriksson Ek a top-10 player at his position?
No: by WAR, he ranks 277th 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 Joel Eriksson Ek getting better?
No, he is slipping: his PAL rating went from 82 in 2024-25 to 76 in 2025-26 (out of 100, 50 = average player at his position).
How has Joel Eriksson Ek played lately?
Over his last 10 games, Joel Eriksson Ek has 11 points (5 goals, 6 assists).
What are Joel Eriksson Ek's career stats?
Over his NHL career, Joel Eriksson Ek has 633 games, 161 goals, 206 assists and 367 points. His best season: 2023-24, with 64 points in 77 games.
Where was Joel Eriksson Ek drafted?
Joel Eriksson Ek was drafted 20th overall (round 1) by Minnesota Wild in 2015.
Is Joel Eriksson Ek better at home or on the road?
At home: in 2026-27, he averages 1.14 points per game at home (8 in 7 games) and 0.75 on the road (9 in 12 games).
How does Joel Eriksson Ek perform in the playoffs?
In the playoffs, Joel Eriksson Ek has 38 games and 18 points in his career. His pace (0.47 points per game) is lower than his regular-season pace (0.58).
Which player is most similar to Joel Eriksson Ek?
Kevin Fiala: he is the player at his position whose PAL profile (the 0-to-100 dimensions) is closest to his in 2025-26.
Kevin Fiala's page →Is Joel Eriksson Ek a good fantasy pick?
Yes, a solid pick: our projection has him at 58 points in 2026-27, or 0.81 points per game.
Does Joel Eriksson Ek have siblings?
Yes: his brother Olle Eriksson Ek (drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft).
Is Joel Eriksson Ek related to anyone famous?
Yes: Clas Eriksson (father, played 13 seasons with Färjestad BK).
What is Joel Eriksson Ek's nationality?
Joel Eriksson Ek is Swedish. Internationally: Represented Sweden at junior and senior levels; 2017 IIHF World Championship gold medalist; captain of Sweden at the 2017 World Junior Championship (4th place); played at the 2014 World U‑17 Hockey Challenge and 2014 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament.
What awards has Joel Eriksson Ek won?
Named Player of the Game on 23 April 2015 following Sweden's game against Canada (2015 IIHF World U18 Championships)..
How many championships has Joel Eriksson Ek won?
1: Gold medal at the 2017 IIHF World Championship with Sweden..
Where did Joel Eriksson Ek play before turning pro?
Played junior hockey for Färjestad BK in the J18 Elit and J20 Nationell; split the 2014–15 season between Färjestad BK's J20 junior team and their SHL senior team..
How many points is Joel Eriksson Ek projected to score in 2026-27?
Our projection has him at 58 points in 72 games in 2026-27 (37 to 79 points, 80% interval), based on his recent seasons, age and role.
See also: his Minnesota Wild teammates
Full roster →
NHL.com ↗ · Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)