Justin
Kirkland
C · MIN · Balanced · Below average
- PAL
- 27
- WAR
- 0.4
- Value
- 45
- PTS
- 8
2024-25№ 262 / 596
Justin Kirkland (Minnesota Wild) stats and profile: offensive production, ice time, advanced stats, WAR and PAL rating.
Justin Kirkland
#28CPlays: Centre · 93% of faceoffs
Minnesota Wild
HEIGHT : 191 cm · WEIGHT : 83 kg · SHOOTS : L
Born : August 1, 1996 · Winnipeg, Canada
Drafted : 2014 · NSH · round 3, pick #62
Contract : $850,000 · 2026-27 → 2026-27 · Two-Way Contract · UFA
NHL record
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | Calgary Flames | 20 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| 2024-25 | Calgary Flames | 21 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 11 |
| 2023-24 | Arizona Coyotes | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022-23 | Anaheim Ducks | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| NHL totals | 50 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 13 | |
Justin Kirkland: our analysis
2024-25 season: 21 GP, 2 G, 6 A, 8 PTS, +6 +/-, 9:42 TOI. WAR 0.4 (262nd of 596) · PAL 27, below average.
In 2024-25, Justin Kirkland, 30, posts a PAL Rating of 27 out of 100 (below average), and his WAR of 0.4 ranks 262nd among 596 regulars, in the top half.
His strengths: offense (68, above average). On the other hand, creation (10, among the weakest in the league) and possession (16, well below average) hold him back.
Breaking down his WAR (goals above average), his biggest contribution: finishing (+1.1).
His WAR went from -0.0 in 2023-24 to 0.4.
Contract-wise, his Value score of 45 (fair value) weighs his output against what he costs: 50 is what that salary should buy.
Justin Kirkland's story
Born in Winnipeg on August 2, 1996 and raised in Camrose, Justin Kirkland learned the game in Alberta’s youth circuits. He played bantam triple-A with the Camrose Kodiaks U15 in the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League before Kelowna selected him in the fifth round, 103rd overall, of the WHL bantam draft in 2011. After two seasons at Athol Murray College of Notre Dame in Saskatchewan (2011–2013), he earned a full-time spot with the Rockets for 2013–14 and posted 48 points in 68 games as a WHL rookie.
That WHL breakthrough led Nashville to take him in the third round, 62nd overall, of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. The 2014–15 season was a highlight: 51 points in 50 games, a WHL championship (the Ed Chynoweth Cup) and a run to the Memorial Cup final — Kirkland scored twice against the Quebec Remparts in the lead-up. After piling up 67 points in 69 games in 2015–16, he signed a three-year entry-level deal with the Predators on May 16, 2016.
Kirkland’s early pro years were spent mainly in the AHL with the Milwaukee Admirals, punctuated by four ECHL appearances with the Cincinnati Cyclones in 2016–17. His best season in Nashville’s system came in 2018–19, when he totaled nine goals and 30 points. Not tendered a qualifying offer in 2019, he became an unrestricted free agent and signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Calgary Flames on July 1, 2019, joining the Stockton Heat in the AHL.
He produced steady AHL work—six goals and 28 points in 53 games in 2019–20, then spent 2020–21 with the Heat before re-signing and exploding for 25 goals and 48 points in 66 games to help reach the AHL Western Conference Finals. On July 14, 2022 he signed with the Anaheim Ducks, debuted in the NHL on December 20 in a 4–1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings and appeared in seven NHL games that season. After a serious car crash in January and a return to the San Diego Gulls, he finished that campaign with nine goals and 18 points in 32 games.
Kirkland signed with the Arizona Coyotes on July 15, 2023, splitting time between Tucson and Arizona before returning to Calgary on July 3, 2024. He scored his first NHL goal on October 13, 2024 against Stuart Skinner of the Edmonton Oilers but suffered a knee injury on November 29 that required ACL surgery and ended his 2024–25 season (he had two goals and six assists in 21 games prior to the injury). On July 1, 2026 he agreed to a one-year, two-way $850,000 contract with the Minnesota Wild for 2026–27.
On the ice, Kirkland is known as a hardworking centre who developed through juniors and extensive AHL minutes, providing depth scoring and responsible two-way play when given opportunity at the NHL level.
Facts drawn from Wikipédia, told in our own words.
Advanced stats
- TOI/GP
- 9:49
- PP TOI/GP
- 0:02
- SH TOI/GP
- 1:37
- Pts/GP
- 0.10
- EV points
- 2
- Hits
- 29
- Blocks
- 10
- Takeaways
- 3
- Corsi % (SAT)
- 49.8 %
- Off. zone starts
- 26.1 %
- Faceoffs
- 50.0 %
Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)
2026-27 projection
Projected points
3between 0 and 12 (80% range)
- Goals
- 1
- Assists
- 2
- Games
- 17
So far: 0 pts in 0 games. The team has played 19 of 84 games. Projected pace: 0.16 pts per game (last season: 0.10).
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
Slight decline
- Points per game: 0.38 in 24-25, 0.10 in 25-26
Outlook, age included
↘ Slight declineAge 30: 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 32 %
65
Depth
- SK
- Skating
- 61
- Confidence 73 %
- ST
- Strength
- 71
- Confidence 37 %
- EN
- Endurance
- 53
- Confidence 67 %
- DU
- Durability
- 36
- Confidence 73 %
- CK
- Checking
- 80
- Confidence 37 %
- FG
- Fighting
- 82
- Confidence 24 %
- DI
- Discipline
- 69
- Confidence 37 %
- FO
- Faceoffs
- 76
- Confidence 40 %
- PA
- Passing
- 76
- Confidence 32 %
- SC
- Scoring
- 71
- Confidence 32 %
- DF
- Defense
- 75
- Confidence 28 %
- PS
- Penalty shot
- 87
- Confidence 33 %
- EX
- Experience
- 42
- Confidence 100 %
Why these ratings?Hide details
SK — Skating61
- Top speed (35 %)35 · 57
- Bursts > 20 mph /60 (30 %)5.727 · 75
- Distance /60 (20 %)16.2 · 72
- Speed consistency (15 %)34.1 · 59
ST — Strength71
- Contact absorbed /60 (50 %)4.408 · 77
- Body mass (50 %)-0.795 · 67
EN — Endurance53
- Ice time per game (45 %)12.7 · 62
- Total ice time (20 %)196 · 35
- Shift length (15 %)42.5 · 64
- Lowest recent ice time per game (15 %)11 · 58
- Special-teams time per game (5 %)2.039 · 70
DU — Durability36
- Share of games played (100 %)0.5 · 36
CK — Checking80
- Hits /60 (70 %)6.508 · 82
- Season volume (10 %)3.401 · 63
FG — Fighting82
- Fights per 82 games (100 %)1.038 · 82
DI — Discipline69
- Net penalty value /60 (50 %)0.004 · 69
- Penalties taken /60 (30 %)0.586 · 77
- Penalties drawn /60 (20 %)0.61 · 67
FO — Faceoffs76
- Faceoff % (85 %)49.8 · 76
- Faceoffs /60 (15 %)37.4 · 74
PA — Passing76
- Primary assists /60 (40 %)0.689 · 77
- Secondary assists /60 (20 %)0.41 · 69
- Offensive creation (RAPM) (20 %)0.044 · 76
- Power-play points /60 (10 %)4.78 · 80
SC — Scoring71
- Goals /60 (25 %)0.711 · 71
- Individual xG /60 (20 %)0.681 · 66
- Finishing (goals − xG per shot) (20 %)-0.115 · 77
- High-danger chances /60 (15 %)1.148 · 70
- xG per shot (10 %)0.082 · 72
- Shot attempts /60 (10 %)11.4 · 69
DF — Defense75
- RAPM defense /60 (35 %)0.029 · 77
- Relative xG against (20 %)-0.086 · 77
- On-ice xG against /60 (15 %)2.571 · 77
- Penalty kill /60 (10 %)-0.017 · 78
- Takeaways − giveaways /60 (10 %)-1.854 · 63
- Shot attempts against /60 (5 %)58.4 · 73
- Blocked shots /60 (5 %)3.131 · 83
PS — Penalty shot87
- Shootouts (60 %)35 · 89
- Penalty shots (40 %)26.7 · 76
EX — Experience42
- Career regular-season games (65 %)55
- Career playoff games (25 %)0
- NHL seasons (10 %)55
OV — Overall65
- SC · Scoring (20 %)71
- PA · Passing (20 %)76
- DF · Defense (20 %)75
- SK · Skating (12 %)61
- FO · Faceoffs (10 %)76
- EN · Endurance (8 %)53
- DI · Discipline (5 %)69
- ST · Strength (3 %)71
- CK · Checking (2 %)80
| Season | OV | SK | SC | DF |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 65 | 61 | 71 | 75 |
| 2024-25 | 71 | 62 | 72 | 75 |
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.
PAL Rating
27/ 100
Performance · Below average
316 of 451 at the position
Value Rating
45/ 100
Fair value
0.90 M$ · expected PAL 31
ProfileBalancedNeither end dominates
- Offense
- 33
- Defense
- 44
See full detailsHide details
- Offense
- 68
- Creation
- 10
- Shooting
- 33
- Possession
- 16
- Defense
- 56
- Discipline
- 44
- Power play
- 41
- Penalty kill
- 61
From 0 to 100; 50 is the average player at the same position, adjusted for ice time.
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
59/ 100
Average
better than 59% of forwards, offense and defense combined
Offensive IQ
85/ 100
Very good
passing, shots, puck
Defensive IQ
29/ 100
Below 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, 162 of 399 forwards.
See full detailsHide details
Offense
- Playmaking passes
- 95
- Shot selection
- 56
- Penalties drawn
- 73
- Puck management
- 55
Defense
- Takeaways
- 51
- Discipline
- 21
- Safe zone exits
- 46
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.
0.0
wins above replacement
-0.2 to 0.3 — 90% interval
375 of 615 forwards
+0.1 goals above replacement
Full leaderboard →See full detailsHide details
- EV offense
- -0.0
- EV defense
- +0.2
- Power play
- 0.0
- Penalty kill
- +0.0
- Shooting
- -0.5
- Penalties
- -0.2
- Average → replacement
- +0.5
In goals.
| Season | Team | GP | WAR | 90% interval | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | CGY | 20 | 0.0 | -0.2 to 0.3 | 375/615 |
| 2024-25 | CGY | 21 | 0.4 | -0.1 to 0.9 | 262/596 |
| 2023-24 | ARI | 2 | -0.0 | -0.1 to 0.0 | 400/608 |
| 2022-23 | ANA | 7 | 0.0 | -0.0 to 0.0 | 365/617 |
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/h63rd percentileleague avg. 134.6 km/h
- Top skating speed
- 34.5 km/h19th percentileleague avg. 35.7 km/h
- Bursts over 20 mph, season
- 1118th percentileleague avg. 75
- Offensive zone time
- 39.0 %13th percentileleague avg. 43.1 %
See full detailsHide details
- Total distance, season
- 52.3 km22nd percentileleague avg. 198.8 km
- Distance, single-game high
- 3.37 km14th percentileleague avg. 4.70 km
- Offensive zone at 5v5
- 41.3 %56th percentileleague avg. 42.0 %
- Neutral zone time
- 17.7 %41st percentileleague avg. 16.8 %
- Defensive zone time
- 43.2 %13th percentileleague avg. 40.1 %
Shooting
| Shots on goal | Goals | Shooting % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All | 1119th percentile | 116th percentile | 9.1 %11th percentile |
| High danger | 622nd percentile | 120th percentile | 16.7 %27th percentile |
| Mid range | 17th percentile | 00th percentile | 0.0 %0th percentile |
| Long range | 00th 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
ANA
PIT
NJD
NYI
CHI
CBJ
BOS
SEA
EDM
NSH
OTT
TOR
NYR
MTL
WPG
UTA
VANJustin Kirkland: frequently asked questions
How many goals does Justin Kirkland have in 2025-26?
Justin Kirkland has 1 goal and 2 points (1 assist) in 20 games in 2025-26.
How old is Justin Kirkland?
Justin Kirkland is 30 years old: he was born on August 2, 1996.
How tall is Justin Kirkland, and how much does he weigh?
Justin Kirkland is 6'3" (191 cm) and weighs 183 lb (83 kg).
Where is Justin Kirkland from?
Canada: Justin Kirkland was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
What team does Justin Kirkland play for?
Justin Kirkland plays for the Minnesota Wild in the NHL, at C, wearing number 28.
Is Justin Kirkland injured?
No: Justin Kirkland is not on the latest NHL injury report. This answer is updated throughout the season.
How good is Justin Kirkland?
Justin Kirkland produced 0.0 wins above replacement (WAR) in 2025-26, 375th of 615 players at his position in the NHL.
How much does Justin Kirkland make?
Justin Kirkland carries a cap hit of $850K per season, on a contract worth $850K in total over 1 years.
When does Justin Kirkland's contract end?
Justin Kirkland's contract runs through the 2026-27 season; he will then be an unrestricted free agent.
Is Justin Kirkland a top-10 player at his position?
No: by WAR, he ranks 375th of 615 players at his position in the NHL in 2025-26. Our comparison tool puts him side by side with any other player.
How has Justin Kirkland played lately?
Over his last 10 games, Justin Kirkland has 1 point (1 goal, 0 assists).
What are Justin Kirkland's career stats?
Over his NHL career, Justin Kirkland has 50 games, 3 goals, 7 assists and 10 points. His best season: 2024-25, with 8 points in 21 games.
Where was Justin Kirkland drafted?
Justin Kirkland was drafted 62nd overall (round 3) by Nashville Predators in 2014.
Is Justin Kirkland better at home or on the road?
No real difference: in 2025-26, he averages 0.11 points per game at home (1 in 9 games) and 0.09 on the road (1 in 11 games).
How does Justin Kirkland perform in the playoffs?
Justin Kirkland has not played in the NHL playoffs yet.
Is Justin Kirkland a good fantasy pick?
Probably not, except in deep leagues: our projection has him at 3 points in 2026-27, or 0.18 points per game.
What is Justin Kirkland's nationality?
Justin Kirkland is Canadian.
How many championships has Justin Kirkland won?
1: Ed Chynoweth Cup — WHL champions with the Kelowna Rockets (2014–15 season).
What is Justin Kirkland's nickname?
He is nicknamed "Costco".
Where did Justin Kirkland play before turning pro?
Camrose Kodiaks U15 AAA (bantam triple-A, two seasons); Athol Murray College of Notre Dame (2011–2013); Kelowna Rockets (WHL, 2013–2016).
How many points is Justin Kirkland projected to score in 2026-27?
Our projection has him at 3 points in 17 games in 2026-27 (0 to 12 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)