Nick
Cousins
C · OTT · Defensive · Below average
- PAL
- 37
- WAR
- 0.4
- Value
- 54
- PTS
- 23
2025-26№ 251 / 615
Nick Cousins (Ottawa Senators) stats and profile: offensive production, ice time, advanced stats, WAR and PAL rating.
Nick Cousins
#21CPlays: Winger · 4% of faceoffs
Ottawa Senators
HEIGHT : 180 cm · WEIGHT : 87 kg · SHOOTS : L
Born : July 19, 1993 · Belleville, Canada
Drafted : 2011 · PHI · round 3, pick #68
Contract : $1,587,500 · 2026-27 → 2027-28 · Standard Contract (Extension) · UFA
NHL record
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | Ottawa Senators | 18 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 42 |
| 2025-26 | Ottawa Senators | 81 | 9 | 14 | 23 | 92 |
| 2024-25 | Ottawa Senators | 50 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 41 |
| 2023-24 | Florida Panthers | 69 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 64 |
| 2022-23 | Florida Panthers | 79 | 9 | 18 | 27 | 38 |
| 2021-22 | Nashville Predators | 68 | 9 | 13 | 22 | 31 |
| 2020-21 | Nashville Predators | 52 | 5 | 13 | 18 | 41 |
| 2019-20 | Vegas Golden Knights | 7 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| 2019-20 | Montréal Canadiens | 58 | 9 | 13 | 22 | 33 |
| 2018-19 | Arizona Coyotes | 81 | 7 | 20 | 27 | 35 |
| 2017-18 | Arizona Coyotes | 71 | 12 | 7 | 19 | 31 |
| 2016-17 | Philadelphia Flyers | 60 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 31 |
| 2015-16 | Philadelphia Flyers | 36 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 4 |
| 2014-15 | Philadelphia Flyers | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| NHL totals | 741 | 88 | 133 | 221 | 487 | |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | Ottawa Senators | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 2024-25 | Ottawa Senators | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023-24 | Florida Panthers | 12 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 20 |
| 2022-23 | Florida Panthers | 21 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 16 |
| 2021-22 | Nashville Predators | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020-21 | Nashville Predators | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 2019-20 | Vegas Golden Knights | 17 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 22 |
| 2015-16 | Philadelphia Flyers | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Playoff totals | 72 | 4 | 12 | 16 | 64 | |
Honours
- 🏆 Stanley Cuponce · 2023-24
Nick Cousins: our analysis
2025-26 season: 81 GP, 9 G, 14 A, 23 PTS, +8 +/-, 11:25 TOI. WAR 0.4 (251st of 615) · PAL 37, below average.
In 2025-26, Nick Cousins, 33, posts a PAL Rating of 37 out of 100 (below average), and his WAR of 0.4 ranks 251st among 615 regulars, in the top half.
His strengths: possession (76, well above average) and defense (71, above average). On the other hand, discipline (12, among the weakest in the league) and penalty kill (21, well below average) hold him back.
Breaking down his WAR (goals above average), his biggest contribution: finishing (+0.9); his biggest cost: penalties (-0.9).
A clear step forward: his PAL went from 20 in 2024-25 to 37; his WAR went from -0.0 to 0.4.
Contract-wise, his Value score of 54 (fair value) weighs his output against what he costs: 50 is what that salary should buy.
Nick Cousins's story
Born in Belleville, Ontario, Nick Cousins climbed the Ontario junior ladder before making the professional leap. His final seasons with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds saw steady improvement, culminating in a 64-game campaign with 27 goals and 76 assists; he left junior hockey with 291 points over 264 games, a record that opened doors at the pro level.
Philadelphia selected Cousins 68th overall in the 2011 draft and signed him to an entry-level deal in March 2012. He cut his teeth in the AHL with Adirondack, later joining Lehigh Valley after the Flyers shifted affiliates. Cousins made his NHL debut in March 2015 and over the next years split time between the Flyers and the AHL, earning a berth in the 2016 AHL All-Star Classic and gradually carving out a role in the Flyers’ bottom-six depth.
A trade in June 2017 sent him to the Arizona Coyotes, where he signed a two-year contract and established himself as a dependable third/fourth-line centre, posting a career-high 27 points in 2018–19. Not tendered a qualifying offer in 2019, he then signed in Montreal, was traded to Vegas at the 2020 deadline and skated in the 2020 playoff run that reached the Western Conference final.
Cousins continued his journeyman path with a two-year deal in Nashville beginning October 2020, before signing with the Florida Panthers in July 2022. He played every game of Florida’s 2023 playoff run and contributed during the Panthers’ 2024 trip to the final, ultimately earning a Stanley Cup in 2024. In August 2024 he agreed to terms with the Ottawa Senators. Across his career Cousins has been defined by his adaptability: a centre trusted in various fourth-line assignments, combining physical play, defensive support and timely offensive contributions when required.
Facts drawn from Wikipédia, told in our own words.
Advanced stats
- TOI/GP
- 9:37
- PP TOI/GP
- 0:06
- SH TOI/GP
- 0:19
- Pts/GP
- 0.17
- EV points
- 3
- Hits
- 40
- Blocks
- 10
- Takeaways
- 3
- Corsi % (SAT)
- 49.0 %
- Off. zone starts
- 30.7 %
- Faceoffs
- 33.3 %
Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)
2026-27 projection
Projected points
17between 5 and 29 (80% range)
- Goals
- 7
- Assists
- 10
- Games
- 76
So far: 3 pts in 18 games. The team has played 18 of 84 games. Projected pace: 0.24 pts per game (last season: 0.28).
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: 0.22 in 23-24, 0.28 in 25-26
- PAL Rating: 20 → 37
Outlook, age included
→ StableAge 33: the age when production usually declines
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 76 %
62
Depth
- SK
- Skating
- 67
- Confidence 73 %
- ST
- Strength
- 88
- Confidence 80 %
- EN
- Endurance
- 59
- Confidence 80 %
- DU
- Durability
- 77
- Confidence 77 %
- CK
- Checking
- 86
- Confidence 80 %
- FG
- Fighting
- 86
- Confidence 63 %
- DI
- Discipline
- 57
- Confidence 80 %
- FO
- Faceoffs
- 72
- Confidence 35 %
- PA
- Passing
- 67
- Confidence 76 %
- SC
- Scoring
- 69
- Confidence 76 %
- DF
- Defense
- 77
- Confidence 72 %
- PS
- Penalty shot
- 67
- Confidence 8 %
- EX
- Experience
- 89
- Confidence 100 %
Why these ratings?Hide details
SK — Skating67
- Top speed (35 %)35.4 · 62
- Bursts > 20 mph /60 (30 %)4.017 · 63
- Distance /60 (20 %)16.7 · 83
- Speed consistency (15 %)34.9 · 67
ST — Strength88
- Contact absorbed /60 (50 %)7.108 · 98
- Body mass (50 %)-0.742 · 68
EN — Endurance59
- Ice time per game (45 %)12.2 · 57
- Total ice time (20 %)911 · 71
- Shift length (15 %)40.4 · 47
- Lowest recent ice time per game (15 %)11.5 · 61
- Special-teams time per game (5 %)0.669 · 37
DU — Durability77
- Share of games played (100 %)0.827 · 77
CK — Checking86
- Hits /60 (70 %)8.429 · 87
- Lowest seasonal rate (20 %)5.676 · 84
- Season volume (10 %)5.136 · 89
FG — Fighting86
- Fights per 82 games (100 %)1.295 · 86
DI — Discipline57
- Net penalty value /60 (50 %)-0.017 · 62
- Penalties taken /60 (30 %)1.338 · 37
- Penalties drawn /60 (20 %)1.239 · 94
FO — Faceoffs72
- Faceoff % (85 %)50.1 · 76
- Faceoffs /60 (15 %)12.1 · 45
PA — Passing67
- Primary assists /60 (40 %)0.506 · 63
- Secondary assists /60 (20 %)0.503 · 76
- Offensive creation (RAPM) (20 %)0.011 · 70
- Power-play points /60 (10 %)4.247 · 71
- Assist consistency (10 %)0.219 · 56
SC — Scoring69
- Goals /60 (25 %)0.67 · 68
- Individual xG /60 (20 %)0.67 · 66
- Finishing (goals − xG per shot) (20 %)-0.145 · 76
- High-danger chances /60 (15 %)1.211 · 73
- xG per shot (10 %)0.08 · 66
- Shot attempts /60 (10 %)11.3 · 69
DF — Defense77
- RAPM defense /60 (35 %)-0.028 · 68
- Relative xG against (20 %)-0.086 · 77
- On-ice xG against /60 (15 %)2.371 · 89
- Penalty kill /60 (10 %)-0.025 · 73
- Takeaways − giveaways /60 (10 %)-1.372 · 75
- Shot attempts against /60 (5 %)55.9 · 85
- Blocked shots /60 (5 %)3.092 · 82
PS — Penalty shot67
- Shootouts (60 %)32 · 65
- Penalty shots (40 %)26.7 · 76
EX — Experience89
- Career regular-season games (65 %)93
- Career playoff games (25 %)81
- NHL seasons (10 %)87
OV — Overall62
- SC · Scoring (20 %)69
- PA · Passing (20 %)67
- DF · Defense (20 %)77
- SK · Skating (12 %)67
- FO · Faceoffs (10 %)72
- EN · Endurance (8 %)59
- DI · Discipline (5 %)57
- ST · Strength (3 %)88
- CK · Checking (2 %)86
| Season | OV | SK | SC | DF |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 62 | 67 | 69 | 77 |
| 2024-25 | 60 | 66 | 70 | 69 |
| 2023-24 | 61 | 70 | 68 | 66 |
| 2022-23 | 70 | 72 | 73 | 68 |
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
0.4
wins above replacement
251 of 615
PAL Rating
37/ 100
Performance · Below average
283 of 476 at the position
Value Rating
54/ 100
Fair value
0.83 M$ · expected PAL 33
ProfileDefensiveValue comes mostly from defense
- Offense
- 29
- Defense
- 70
See full detailsHide details
- Offense
- 24
- Creation
- 25
- Shooting
- 27
- Possession
- 76
- Defense
- 71
- Discipline
- 12
- Power play
- 23
- Penalty kill
- 21
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 | OTT | 0.4 | 37 | 54 | 0.83 M$ |
| 2024-25 | OTT | -0.0 | 20 | 38 | 0.80 M$ |
| 2023-24 | FLA | -0.4 | 7 | 13 | 1.10 M$ |
| 2022-23 | FLA | 0.2 | 25 | 33 | 1.10 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
2/ 100
Low
better than 2% of forwards, offense and defense combined
Offensive IQ
56/ 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, 414 of 424 forwards.
See full detailsHide details
Offense
- Playmaking passes
- 29
- Shot selection
- 33
- Penalties drawn
- 91
- Puck management
- 45
Defense
- Takeaways
- 68
- Discipline
- 1
- Safe zone exits
- 4
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 | OTT | 2 | 56 | 1 |
| 2024-25 | OTT | 13 | 79 | 2 |
| 2023-24 | FLA | 29 | 50 | 25 |
| 2022-23 | FLA | 65 | 70 | 58 |
WAR, 2025-26
How it's calculated →Wins added to the team, compared with a replacement-level player called up from the AHL.
0.4
wins above replacement
-0.4 to 1.2 — 90% interval
251 of 615 forwards
+2.3 goals above replacement
Full leaderboard →See full detailsHide details
- EV offense
- -0.2
- EV defense
- +0.1
- Power play
- -0.0
- Penalty kill
- 0.0
- Shooting
- +0.9
- Penalties
- -0.9
- Average → replacement
- +2.4
In goals.
| Season | Team | GP | WAR | 90% interval | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | OTT | 81 | 0.4 | -0.4 to 1.2 | 251/615 |
| 2024-25 | OTT | 49 | -0.0 | -0.7 to 0.7 | 414/596 |
| 2023-24 | FLA | 69 | -0.4 | -1.2 to 0.5 | 542/608 |
| 2022-23 | FLA | 79 | 0.2 | -0.4 to 1.2 | 262/617 |
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
- 121.2 km/h15th percentileleague avg. 130.1 km/h
- Top skating speed
- 33.8 km/h16th percentileleague avg. 35.2 km/h
- Bursts over 20 mph, season
- 515th percentileleague avg. 21
- Offensive zone time
- 42.8 %59th percentileleague avg. 43.1 %
See full detailsHide details
- Total distance, season
- 45.7 km37th percentileleague avg. 52.2 km
- Distance, single-game high
- 4.03 km33rd percentileleague avg. 4.52 km
- Offensive zone at 5v5
- 43.2 %85th percentileleague avg. 42.4 %
- Neutral zone time
- 18.2 %57th percentileleague avg. 16.8 %
- Defensive zone time
- 38.9 %59th percentileleague avg. 40.1 %
Shooting
| Shots on goal | Goals | Shooting % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All | 1335th percentile | 254th percentile | 15.4 %61st percentile |
| High danger | 433rd percentile | 274th percentile | 50.0 %96th percentile |
| Mid range | 227th percentile | 054th percentile | 0.0 %32nd percentile |
| Long range | 153rd percentile | 092nd percentile | 0.0 %87th 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
UTA
BUF
ANA
SJS
LAK
VGK
NYR
FLA
PHI
NYI
STL
NJD
NSH
DET
BOS
TORNick Cousins: frequently asked questions
How many goals does Nick Cousins have in 2026-27?
Nick Cousins has 2 goals and 3 points (1 assist) in 18 games in 2026-27.
How old is Nick Cousins?
Nick Cousins is 33 years old: he was born on July 20, 1993.
How tall is Nick Cousins, and how much does he weigh?
Nick Cousins is 5'11" (180 cm) and weighs 192 lb (87 kg).
Where is Nick Cousins from?
Canada: Nick Cousins was born in Belleville, Ontario, Canada.
What team does Nick Cousins play for?
Nick Cousins plays for the Ottawa Senators in the NHL, at C, wearing number 21.
Is Nick Cousins injured?
No: Nick Cousins is not on the latest NHL injury report. This answer is updated throughout the season.
How good is Nick Cousins?
Nick Cousins produced 0.4 wins above replacement (WAR) in 2025-26, 251st of 615 players at his position in the NHL. His PAL rating is 37 out of 100: below average for his position.
How much does Nick Cousins make?
Nick Cousins earns $825K for the 2025-26 season. His Value Rating is 54 out of 100 (fair value): it measures the on-field return for that salary, compared with players at his position.
When does Nick Cousins's contract end?
Nick Cousins's contract runs through the 2027-28 season; he will then be an unrestricted free agent.
Is Nick Cousins overpaid?
Neither: he delivers about what his salary should buy. His Value rating is 54 out of 100 (fair value), where 50 is the output expected for his salary, compared with players at his position.
Is Nick Cousins a top-10 player at his position?
No: by WAR, he ranks 251st 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 Nick Cousins getting better?
Yes: his PAL rating went from 20 in 2024-25 to 37 in 2025-26 (out of 100, 50 = average player at his position).
How has Nick Cousins played lately?
Over his last 10 games, Nick Cousins has 1 point (1 goal, 0 assists).
What are Nick Cousins's career stats?
Over his NHL career, Nick Cousins has 741 games, 88 goals, 133 assists and 221 points. His best season: 2022-23, with 27 points in 79 games.
Where was Nick Cousins drafted?
Nick Cousins was drafted 68th overall (round 3) by Philadelphia Flyers in 2011.
Is Nick Cousins better at home or on the road?
At home: in 2026-27, he averages 0.25 points per game at home (2 in 8 games) and 0.10 on the road (1 in 10 games).
How does Nick Cousins perform in the playoffs?
In the playoffs, Nick Cousins has 72 games and 16 points in his career. His pace (0.22 points per game) is similar to his regular-season pace (0.30).
Which player is most similar to Nick Cousins?
Kevin Hayes: he is the player at his position whose PAL profile (the 0-to-100 dimensions) is closest to his in 2025-26.
Kevin Hayes's page →Is Nick Cousins a good fantasy pick?
Probably not, except in deep leagues: our projection has him at 17 points in 2026-27, or 0.22 points per game.
What is Nick Cousins's nationality?
Nick Cousins is Canadian.
What awards has Nick Cousins won?
Named to the AHL All-Star Classic (2016).
How many championships has Nick Cousins won?
1: Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers (2024).
Where did Nick Cousins play before turning pro?
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL), 2009–2013.
How many points is Nick Cousins projected to score in 2026-27?
Our projection has him at 17 points in 76 games in 2026-27 (5 to 29 points, 80% interval), based on his recent seasons, age and role.
See also: his Ottawa Senators teammates
Full roster →
NHL.com ↗ · Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)