Joel
Nystrom
D · CAR · Balanced · Around average
- PAL
- 48
- WAR
- 0.2
- Value
- 58
- PTS
- 10
2025-26№ 146 / 325
Joel Nystrom (Carolina Hurricanes) stats and profile: offensive production, ice time, advanced stats, WAR and PAL rating.
Joel Nystrom: our analysis
2025-26 season: 38 GP, 1 G, 9 A, 10 PTS, +6 +/-, 15:11 TOI. WAR 0.2 (146th of 325) · PAL 48, around average.
In 2025-26, Joel Nystrom, 24, posts a PAL Rating of 48 out of 100 (around average), and his WAR of 0.2 ranks 146th among 325 regulars, in the top half.
His strengths: possession (82, well above average) and offense (68, above average). On the other hand, creation (15, among the weakest in the league) and defense (33, below average) hold him back.
Breaking down his WAR (goals above average), his biggest contribution: EV offense (+0.7); his biggest cost: finishing (-0.5).
Contract-wise, his Value score of 58 (good value) weighs his output against what he costs: 50 is what that salary should buy.
Joel Nystrom's story
When Joel Nyström broke into the pro ranks, it was wearing the colours of Färjestad BK, the club that trained him through its junior system and gave him his first taste of top‑level hockey. He first appeared in the Swedish Hockey League during the 2020–21 campaign, learning the pro game within the same organization that developed him.
Across subsequent seasons with Färjestad, Nyström steadily added offense to his defensive duties. His production climbed each year, culminating in 2023–24 when he recorded career highs: 8 goals and 18 assists for 26 points over 51 regular‑season games. That season underlined his growing willingness to join the play without abandoning his responsibilities at the back.
Selected in the seventh round, 219th overall, by the Carolina Hurricanes at the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, he remained in Sweden to continue his development. On 7 May 2024 he signed a two‑year entry‑level contract with the Hurricanes; the club immediately loaned him back to Färjestad BK for the 2024–25 season so he could keep playing meaningful minutes at home.
Nyström is now under contract to the Carolina organization and is playing as a defenceman for the Chicago Wolves in the American Hockey League. The Hurricanes showed further commitment to his path on 12 December 2025 by signing him to a four‑year extension, a clear step toward a longer‑term role within the franchise.
On the ice he is characterized by steady positioning, dependable puck retrievals and an increasing aptitude to contribute offensively. Those traits—sound defensive reads combined with cleaner transitional play—explain why Carolina has invested in his progression from the SHL to the AHL and into its organizational plans.
Facts drawn from Wikipédia, told in our own words.
Advanced stats
- TOI/GP
- 15:11
- PP TOI/GP
- 0:03
- SH TOI/GP
- 1:07
- Pts/GP
- 0.26
- EV points
- 10
- Hits
- 10
- Blocks
- 22
- Takeaways
- 5
- Corsi % (SAT)
- 58.8 %
- Off. zone starts
- 43.5 %
Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)
Prospect value
Scout Report Center →Rank
162
among all 32 teams' prospects
Rating
88/ 100
percentile among prospects at his position
Potential
55/ 80
NHL regular
Ceiling: 2.4 WAR from age 21 to 26
NHL probability
35 %
of playing 200 NHL games from age 21 to 26
Expected WAR, age 21-26
1.0
the most likely outcome
NHLe
10
NHL points over 82 games, from 2025-26 (AHL, 37 games)
2026-27 projection
Projected points
6between 1 and 16 (80% range)
- Goals
- 1
- Assists
- 5
- Games
- 27
So far: 0 pts in 0 games. The team has played 19 of 84 games. Projected pace: 0.23 pts per game (last season: 0.26).
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.
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 36 %
72
Established NHL
- SK
- Skating
- 71
- Confidence 40 %
- ST
- Strength
- 62
- Confidence 42 %
- EN
- Endurance
- 61
- Confidence 50 %
- DU
- Durability
- 62
- Confidence 40 %
- CK
- Checking
- 67
- Confidence 42 %
- FG
- Fighting
- 79
- Confidence 19 %
- DI
- Discipline
- 76
- Confidence 42 %
- FO
- Faceoffs
- —
- PA
- Passing
- 84
- Confidence 36 %
- SC
- Scoring
- 71
- Confidence 36 %
- DF
- Defense
- 72
- Confidence 32 %
- PS
- Penalty shot
- 76
- Confidence 0 %
- EX
- Experience
- 36
- Confidence 100 %
Why these ratings?Hide details
SK — Skating71
- Top speed (35 %)34.9 · 67
- Bursts > 20 mph /60 (30 %)1.806 · 74
- Distance /60 (20 %)14.2 · 75
- Speed consistency (15 %)34.4 · 73
ST — Strength62
- Contact absorbed /60 (50 %)5.47 · 77
- Body mass (50 %)-1.408 · 50
EN — Endurance61
- Ice time per game (45 %)17.2 · 64
- Total ice time (20 %)569 · 59
- Shift length (15 %)43.3 · 59
- Lowest recent ice time per game (15 %)16.2 · 68
- Special-teams time per game (5 %)1.89 · 67
DU — Durability62
- Share of games played (100 %)0.703 · 62
CK — Checking67
- Hits /60 (70 %)2.269 · 68
- Lowest seasonal rate (20 %)2.058 · 69
- Season volume (10 %)2.398 · 53
FG — Fighting79
- Fights per 82 games (100 %)0.905 · 79
DI — Discipline76
- Net penalty value /60 (50 %)-0.038 · 76
- Penalties taken /60 (30 %)0.485 · 82
- Penalties drawn /60 (20 %)0.263 · 61
PA — Passing84
- Primary assists /60 (40 %)0.574 · 86
- Secondary assists /60 (20 %)0.342 · 66
- Offensive creation (RAPM) (20 %)0.048 · 80
- Power-play points /60 (10 %)4.282 · 80
- Assist consistency (10 %)0.5 · 89
SC — Scoring71
- Goals /60 (25 %)0.18 · 70
- Individual xG /60 (20 %)0.19 · 73
- Finishing (goals − xG per shot) (20 %)0.161 · 73
- High-danger chances /60 (15 %)0.064 · 66
- xG per shot (10 %)0.034 · 69
- Shot attempts /60 (10 %)11.5 · 82
DF — Defense72
- RAPM defense /60 (35 %)0.003 · 73
- Relative xG against (20 %)-0.004 · 75
- On-ice xG against /60 (15 %)2.563 · 79
- Penalty kill /60 (10 %)-0.006 · 75
- Takeaways − giveaways /60 (10 %)-2.379 · 63
- Shot attempts against /60 (5 %)57.8 · 77
- Blocked shots /60 (5 %)3.452 · 58
PS — Penalty shot76
- Shootouts (60 %)32.7 · 76
- Penalty shots (40 %)26.7 · 76
EX — Experience36
- Career regular-season games (65 %)52
- Career playoff games (25 %)0
- NHL seasons (10 %)24
OV — Overall72
- DF · Defense (30 %)72
- PA · Passing (22 %)84
- SK · Skating (12 %)71
- SC · Scoring (12 %)71
- EN · Endurance (9 %)61
- ST · Strength (6 %)62
- DI · Discipline (5 %)76
- CK · Checking (4 %)67
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
0.2
wins above replacement
146 of 325
PAL Rating
48/ 100
Performance · Around average
127 of 250 at the position
Value Rating
58/ 100
Good value
0.93 M$ · expected PAL 39
ProfileBalancedNeither end dominates
- Offense
- 60
- Defense
- 47
See full detailsHide details
- Offense
- 68
- Creation
- 15
- Shooting
- 50
- Possession
- 82
- Defense
- 33
- Discipline
- 44
- Power play
- 53
- Penalty kill
- 51
From 0 to 100; 50 is the average player at the same position, adjusted for ice time.
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
53/ 100
Average
better than 53% of defensemen, offense and defense combined
Offensive IQ
34/ 100
Below average
passing, shots, puck
Defensive IQ
67/ 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, 105 of 225 defensemen.
See full detailsHide details
Offense
- Playmaking passes
- 95
- Shot selection
- 13
- Penalties drawn
- 14
- Puck management
- 43
Defense
- Takeaways
- 3
- Discipline
- 77
- Safe zone exits
- 89
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.
WAR, 2025-26
How it's calculated →Wins added to the team, compared with a replacement-level player called up from the AHL.
0.2
wins above replacement
-0.2 to 0.7 — 90% interval
146 of 325 defensemen
+1.0 goals above replacement
Full leaderboard →See full detailsHide details
- EV offense
- +0.7
- EV defense
- -0.2
- Power play
- 0.0
- Penalty kill
- +0.0
- Shooting
- -0.5
- Penalties
- -0.3
- Average → replacement
- +1.2
In goals.
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
- 143.9 km/h44th percentileleague avg. 143.1 km/h
- Top skating speed
- 34.3 km/h37th percentileleague avg. 34.7 km/h
- Bursts over 20 mph, season
- 1440th percentileleague avg. 31
- Offensive zone time
- 44.7 %89th percentileleague avg. 42.3 %
See full detailsHide details
- Total distance, season
- 134.7 km37th percentileleague avg. 214.3 km
- Distance, single-game high
- 4.87 km35th percentileleague avg. 5.23 km
- Offensive zone at 5v5
- 45.5 %95th percentileleague avg. 42.1 %
- Neutral zone time
- 18.2 %73rd percentileleague avg. 16.8 %
- Defensive zone time
- 37.1 %91st percentileleague avg. 40.9 %
Shooting
| Shots on goal | Goals | Shooting % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All | 4344th percentile | 129th percentile | 2.3 %9th percentile |
| High danger | 00th percentile | 00th percentile | 0.0 %0th percentile |
| Mid range | 638th percentile | 149th percentile | 16.7 %88th percentile |
| Long range | 3154th percentile | 00th percentile | 0.0 %0th percentile |
Shots on goal by zone
2025-2026 regular season. Measured by puck and player tracking chips; the percentile ranks the player within the league.
Game log, 2025-26
NYI
OTT
CHI
BUF
NJD
ANA
DAL
COL
MTL
PIT
NYR
DET
FLA
PHI
WSH
CBJ
NSH
TOR
CGY
WPG
MIN
BOS
EDM
VAN
VGKJoel Nystrom: frequently asked questions
How many goals does Joel Nystrom have in 2025-26?
Joel Nystrom has 1 goal and 10 points (9 assists) in 38 games in 2025-26.
How old is Joel Nystrom?
Joel Nystrom is 24 years old: he was born on May 14, 2002.
How tall is Joel Nystrom, and how much does he weigh?
Joel Nystrom is 5'11" (180 cm) and weighs 179 lb (81 kg).
Where is Joel Nystrom from?
Sweden: Joel Nystrom was born in Karlstad, Sweden.
What team does Joel Nystrom play for?
Joel Nystrom plays for the Carolina Hurricanes in the NHL, at D, wearing number 64.
Is Joel Nystrom injured?
No: Joel Nystrom is not on the latest NHL injury report. This answer is updated throughout the season.
How good is Joel Nystrom?
Joel Nystrom produced 0.2 wins above replacement (WAR) in 2025-26, 146th of 325 players at his position in the NHL. His PAL rating is 48 out of 100: around average for his position.
How much does Joel Nystrom make?
Joel Nystrom earns $925K for the 2025-26 season. His Value Rating is 58 out of 100 (good value): it measures the on-field return for that salary, compared with players at his position.
When does Joel Nystrom's contract end?
Joel Nystrom's contract runs through the 2029-30 season; he will then be an unrestricted free agent.
Is Joel Nystrom overpaid?
No, he gives more than he costs. His Value rating is 58 out of 100 (good value), where 50 is the output expected for his salary, compared with players at his position.
Is Joel Nystrom a top-10 player at his position?
No: by WAR, he ranks 146th of 325 players at his position in the NHL in 2025-26. Our comparison tool puts him side by side with any other player.
How has Joel Nystrom played lately?
Over his last 10 games, Joel Nystrom has 3 points (1 goal, 2 assists).
What are Joel Nystrom's career stats?
Over his NHL career, Joel Nystrom has 38 games, 1 goal, 9 assists and 10 points.
Where was Joel Nystrom drafted?
Joel Nystrom was drafted 219th overall (round 7) by Carolina Hurricanes in 2021.
Is Joel Nystrom better at home or on the road?
No real difference: in 2025-26, he averages 0.23 points per game at home (5 in 22 games) and 0.31 on the road (5 in 16 games).
How does Joel Nystrom perform in the playoffs?
Joel Nystrom has not played in the NHL playoffs yet.
Which player is most similar to Joel Nystrom?
Max Crozier: he is the player at his position whose PAL profile (the 0-to-100 dimensions) is closest to his in 2025-26.
Max Crozier's page →Is Joel Nystrom a good fantasy pick?
Probably not, except in deep leagues: our projection has him at 6 points in 2026-27, or 0.22 points per game.
What is Joel Nystrom's nationality?
Joel Nystrom is Swedish.
Where did Joel Nystrom play before turning pro?
Played youth hockey within the Färjestad BK organization (SHL); made his professional debut in the 2020–21 season..
How many points is Joel Nystrom projected to score in 2026-27?
Our projection has him at 6 points in 27 games in 2026-27 (1 to 16 points, 80% interval), based on his recent seasons, age and role.
See also: his Carolina Hurricanes teammates
Full roster →
NHL.com ↗ · Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)