Nico
Sturm
C · MIN · Balanced · Very poor
- PAL
- 10
- WAR
- -0.2
- Value
- 13
- PTS
- 11
2025-26№ 503 / 615
Nico Sturm (Minnesota Wild) stats and profile: offensive production, ice time, advanced stats, WAR and PAL rating.
Nico Sturm
#78CPlays: Centre · 75% of faceoffs
Minnesota Wild
HEIGHT : 191 cm · WEIGHT : 95 kg · SHOOTS : L
Born : May 2, 1995 · Augsburg, Germany
Contract : $2,000,000 · 2025-26 → 2026-27 · Standard Contract · UFA
NHL record
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | Minnesota Wild | 13 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 2025-26 | Minnesota Wild | 49 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 16 |
| 2024-25 | Florida Panthers | 15 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| 2024-25 | San Jose Sharks | 47 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 13 |
| 2023-24 | San Jose Sharks | 63 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 12 |
| 2022-23 | San Jose Sharks | 74 | 14 | 12 | 26 | 23 |
| 2021-22 | Colorado Avalanche | 21 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| 2021-22 | Minnesota Wild | 53 | 9 | 8 | 17 | 8 |
| 2020-21 | Minnesota Wild | 50 | 11 | 6 | 17 | 17 |
| 2019-20 | Minnesota Wild | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 2018-19 | Minnesota Wild | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| NHL totals | 393 | 51 | 54 | 105 | 104 | |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | Minnesota Wild | 8 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0 |
| 2024-25 | Florida Panthers | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021-22 | Colorado Avalanche | 13 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 2020-21 | Minnesota Wild | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 2019-20 | Minnesota Wild | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Playoff totals | 38 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 2 | |
Honours
- 🏆 Stanley Cup2 times · 2024-25, 2021-22
Nico Sturm: our analysis
2025-26 season: 49 GP, 5 G, 6 A, 11 PTS, 0 +/-, 10:57 TOI. WAR -0.2 (503rd of 615) · PAL 10, very poor.
In 2025-26, Nico Sturm, 31, posts a PAL Rating of 10 out of 100 (very poor), and his WAR of -0.2 ranks 503rd among 615 regulars, in the bottom quarter.
His strengths: defense (64, above average). On the other hand, discipline (2, among the weakest in the league) and penalty kill (4, among the weakest in the league) hold him back.
Breaking down his WAR (goals above average), his biggest contribution: EV defense (+0.2); his biggest cost: penalties (-1.2).
A marked decline: his PAL was 20 in 2024-25, against 10 now; his WAR went from 0.3 to -0.2.
Contract-wise, his Value score of 13 (very poor return) weighs his output against what he costs: 50 is what that salary should buy.
Nico Sturm's story
Growing up in Augsburg and developed through the youth ranks of Augsburger EV and ESV Kaufbeuren, Nico Sturm opted early to test himself in North America. He first played in the NAHL with the Corpus Christi IceRays, then moved through the USHL with the Austin Bruins and Tri‑City Storm, helping Tri‑City capture the Clark Cup in 2016.
Sturm then committed to Clarkson University, where three seasons with the Golden Knights shaped his reputation as a dependable two‑way centre. He earned ECAC All‑Rookie recognition as a freshman, led the NCAA in faceoff percentage during his sophomore year while being named ECAC Best Defensive Forward, and capped his junior year with team scoring leadership plus a second consecutive defensive player honour and multiple postseason and individual nominations.
Undrafted, he left Clarkson after his junior season to sign an entry‑level deal with the Minnesota Wild on 1 April 2019 and made his NHL debut days later. His early professional years saw time split between the NHL club and the AHL affiliate, before a trade on 15 March 2022 sent him to the Colorado Avalanche — a move that preceded Colorado’s Stanley Cup victory that season. As a free agent he signed a three‑year deal with the San Jose Sharks on 13 July 2022.
On 6 March 2025 Sturm was traded to the Florida Panthers; although his playing time was limited late in that postseason, he was part of the Panthers’ 2025 Stanley Cup championship roster. He returned to Minnesota as an unrestricted free agent on 1 July 2025 with a two‑year contract. Early in the 2026‑27 campaign he was injured by an errant high shot to the head during an October game and was taken to hospital for evaluation.
Sturm’s game is grounded in defensive responsibility and faceoff strength, the hallmarks of his NCAA development. That reliability down the middle, combined with the capacity to chip in offensively, explains why clubs have counted on him in different roles at the NHL level.
Facts drawn from Wikipédia, told in our own words.
Advanced stats
- TOI/GP
- 10:33
- PP TOI/GP
- 0:02
- SH TOI/GP
- 1:51
- Pts/GP
- 0.15
- EV points
- 2
- Hits
- 28
- Blocks
- 6
- Takeaways
- 1
- Corsi % (SAT)
- 43.2 %
- Off. zone starts
- 35.0 %
- Faceoffs
- 64.3 %
Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)
2026-27 projection
Projected points
11between 2 and 21 (80% range)
- Goals
- 3
- Assists
- 8
- Games
- 57
So far: 2 pts in 13 games. The team has played 19 of 84 games. Projected pace: 0.20 pts per game (last season: 0.22).
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: 0.21 in 23-24, 0.22 in 25-26
- PAL Rating: 20 → 10
Outlook, age included
↓ DecliningAge 31: 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
- 76
- Confidence 73 %
- ST
- Strength
- 79
- Confidence 79 %
- EN
- Endurance
- 58
- Confidence 80 %
- DU
- Durability
- 68
- Confidence 77 %
- CK
- Checking
- 80
- Confidence 79 %
- FG
- Fighting
- 81
- Confidence 61 %
- DI
- Discipline
- 62
- Confidence 79 %
- FO
- Faceoffs
- 87
- Confidence 86 %
- PA
- Passing
- 61
- Confidence 76 %
- SC
- Scoring
- 63
- Confidence 76 %
- DF
- Defense
- 75
- Confidence 72 %
- PS
- Penalty shot
- 76
- Confidence 0 %
- EX
- Experience
- 79
- Confidence 100 %
Why these ratings?Hide details
SK — Skating76
- Top speed (35 %)36.1 · 75
- Bursts > 20 mph /60 (30 %)6.953 · 78
- Distance /60 (20 %)16 · 64
- Speed consistency (15 %)35.8 · 80
ST — Strength79
- Contact absorbed /60 (50 %)3.638 · 70
- Body mass (50 %)0.537 · 83
EN — Endurance58
- Ice time per game (45 %)12.5 · 60
- Total ice time (20 %)526 · 59
- Shift length (15 %)42.1 · 62
- Lowest recent ice time per game (15 %)10.9 · 56
- Special-teams time per game (5 %)1.996 · 69
DU — Durability68
- Share of games played (100 %)0.758 · 68
CK — Checking80
- Hits /60 (70 %)6.037 · 81
- Lowest seasonal rate (20 %)4.84 · 80
- Season volume (10 %)4.025 · 74
FG — Fighting81
- Fights per 82 games (100 %)0.997 · 81
DI — Discipline62
- Net penalty value /60 (50 %)-0.023 · 60
- Penalties taken /60 (30 %)0.636 · 75
- Penalties drawn /60 (20 %)0.499 · 58
FO — Faceoffs87
- Faceoff % (85 %)55.3 · 88
- Faceoffs /60 (15 %)42.8 · 79
PA — Passing61
- Primary assists /60 (40 %)0.487 · 61
- Secondary assists /60 (20 %)0.363 · 65
- Offensive creation (RAPM) (20 %)-0.013 · 67
- Power-play points /60 (10 %)4.244 · 71
- Assist consistency (10 %)0.283 · 63
SC — Scoring63
- Goals /60 (25 %)0.68 · 70
- Individual xG /60 (20 %)0.623 · 61
- Finishing (goals − xG per shot) (20 %)-0.076 · 77
- High-danger chances /60 (15 %)0.785 · 49
- xG per shot (10 %)0.08 · 66
- Shot attempts /60 (10 %)10.5 · 64
DF — Defense75
- RAPM defense /60 (35 %)0.011 · 75
- Relative xG against (20 %)-0.132 · 80
- On-ice xG against /60 (15 %)2.651 · 72
- Penalty kill /60 (10 %)-0.172 · 60
- Takeaways − giveaways /60 (10 %)-0.779 · 89
- Shot attempts against /60 (5 %)59.3 · 68
- Blocked shots /60 (5 %)2.829 · 77
PS — Penalty shot76
- Shootouts (60 %)32.7 · 76
- Penalty shots (40 %)26.7 · 76
EX — Experience79
- Career regular-season games (65 %)84
- Career playoff games (25 %)69
- NHL seasons (10 %)75
OV — Overall62
- SC · Scoring (20 %)63
- PA · Passing (20 %)61
- DF · Defense (20 %)75
- SK · Skating (12 %)76
- FO · Faceoffs (10 %)87
- EN · Endurance (8 %)58
- DI · Discipline (5 %)62
- ST · Strength (3 %)79
- CK · Checking (2 %)80
| Season | OV | SK | SC | DF |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 62 | 76 | 63 | 75 |
| 2024-25 | 71 | 78 | 65 | 75 |
| 2023-24 | 66 | 80 | 53 | 76 |
| 2022-23 | 77 | 84 | 70 | 83 |
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
503 of 615
PAL Rating
10/ 100
Performance · Very poor
426 of 476 at the position
Value Rating
13/ 100
Very poor return
2.00 M$ · expected PAL 48
ProfileBalancedNeither end dominates
- Offense
- 16
- Defense
- 45
See full detailsHide details
- Offense
- 16
- Creation
- 10
- Shooting
- 21
- Possession
- 45
- Defense
- 64
- Discipline
- 2
- Power play
- 40
- Penalty kill
- 4
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 | -0.2 | 10 | 13 | 2.00 M$ |
| 2024-25 | FLA | 0.3 | 20 | 19 | 2.00 M$ |
| 2023-24 | SJS | -0.1 | 10 | 9 | 2.00 M$ |
| 2022-23 | SJS | 1.0 | 47 | 43 | 2.00 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
3/ 100
Low
better than 3% of forwards, offense and defense combined
Offensive IQ
2/ 100
Low
passing, shots, puck
Defensive IQ
13/ 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, 410 of 424 forwards.
See full detailsHide details
Offense
- Playmaking passes
- 6
- Shot selection
- 38
- Penalties drawn
- 0
- Puck management
- 32
Defense
- Takeaways
- 28
- Discipline
- 13
- Safe zone exits
- 42
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 | 3 | 2 | 13 |
| 2024-25 | FLA | 29 | 32 | 35 |
| 2023-24 | SJS | 21 | 3 | 68 |
| 2022-23 | SJS | 26 | 15 | 49 |
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
-0.7 to 0.4 — 90% interval
503 of 615 forwards
-0.9 goals above replacement
Full leaderboard →See full detailsHide details
- EV offense
- -0.2
- EV defense
- +0.2
- Power play
- 0.0
- Penalty kill
- -0.6
- Shooting
- -0.4
- Penalties
- -1.2
- Average → replacement
- +1.4
In goals.
| Season | Team | GP | WAR | 90% interval | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | MIN | 50 | -0.2 | -0.7 to 0.4 | 503/615 |
| 2024-25 | FLA | 59 | 0.3 | -0.2 to 1.0 | 264/596 |
| 2023-24 | SJS | 63 | -0.1 | -0.8 to 0.8 | 463/608 |
| 2022-23 | SJS | 74 | 1.0 | -0.1 to 1.7 | 135/617 |
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
- 128.0 km/h37th percentileleague avg. 129.5 km/h
- Top skating speed
- 35.7 km/h65th percentileleague avg. 35.1 km/h
- Bursts over 20 mph, season
- 1544th percentileleague avg. 20
- Offensive zone time
- 37.7 %10th percentileleague avg. 41.9 %
See full detailsHide details
- Total distance, season
- 30.9 km28th percentileleague avg. 50.0 km
- Distance, single-game high
- 3.42 km17th percentileleague avg. 4.51 km
- Offensive zone at 5v5
- 38.7 %14th percentileleague avg. 40.4 %
- Neutral zone time
- 17.1 %10th percentileleague avg. 19.0 %
- Defensive zone time
- 45.2 %7th percentileleague avg. 39.1 %
Shooting
| Shots on goal | Goals | Shooting % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All | 621st percentile | 024th percentile | 0.0 %3rd percentile |
| High danger | 224th percentile | 034th percentile | 0.0 %11th percentile |
| Mid range | 335th percentile | 055th percentile | 0.0 %33rd percentile |
| Long range | 033rd percentile | 092nd percentile | 0.0 %0th 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
TBL
SJS
PHI
WSH
NYI
UTA
VAN
SEA
CGY
EDM
VGK
FLANico Sturm: frequently asked questions
How many goals does Nico Sturm have in 2026-27?
Nico Sturm has 0 goals and 2 points (2 assists) in 13 games in 2026-27.
How old is Nico Sturm?
Nico Sturm is 31 years old: he was born on May 3, 1995.
How tall is Nico Sturm, and how much does he weigh?
Nico Sturm is 6'3" (191 cm) and weighs 209 lb (95 kg).
Where is Nico Sturm from?
Germany: Nico Sturm was born in Augsburg, Germany.
What team does Nico Sturm play for?
Nico Sturm plays for the Minnesota Wild in the NHL, at C, wearing number 78.
Is Nico Sturm injured?
No: Nico Sturm is not on the latest NHL injury report. This answer is updated throughout the season.
How good is Nico Sturm?
Nico Sturm produced -0.2 wins above replacement (WAR) in 2025-26, 503rd of 615 players at his position in the NHL. His PAL rating is 10 out of 100: very poor for his position.
How much does Nico Sturm make?
Nico Sturm earns $2.0M for the 2025-26 season. His Value Rating is 13 out of 100 (very poor return): it measures the on-field return for that salary, compared with players at his position.
When does Nico Sturm's contract end?
Nico Sturm's contract runs through the 2026-27 season; he will then be an unrestricted free agent.
Is Nico Sturm overpaid?
Yes, his output falls short of what his salary should buy. His Value rating is 13 out of 100 (very poor return), where 50 is the output expected for his salary, compared with players at his position.
Is Nico Sturm a top-10 player at his position?
No: by WAR, he ranks 503rd 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 Nico Sturm getting better?
No, he is slipping: his PAL rating went from 20 in 2024-25 to 10 in 2025-26 (out of 100, 50 = average player at his position).
How has Nico Sturm played lately?
Over his last 10 games, Nico Sturm has 2 points (0 goals, 2 assists).
What are Nico Sturm's career stats?
Over his NHL career, Nico Sturm has 393 games, 51 goals, 54 assists and 105 points. His best season: 2022-23, with 26 points in 74 games.
How does Nico Sturm perform in the playoffs?
In the playoffs, Nico Sturm has 38 games and 10 points in his career. His pace (0.26 points per game) is similar to his regular-season pace (0.27).
Which player is most similar to Nico Sturm?
Nicolas Deslauriers: he is the player at his position whose PAL profile (the 0-to-100 dimensions) is closest to his in 2025-26.
Nicolas Deslauriers's page →Is Nico Sturm a good fantasy pick?
Probably not, except in deep leagues: our projection has him at 11 points in 2026-27, or 0.19 points per game.
Is Nico Sturm married?
Yes, married to Taylor Turnquist.
What is Nico Sturm's nationality?
Nico Sturm is German. Internationally: Germany national team — silver medal at the 2023 World Championships.
What awards has Nico Sturm won?
Selected to the ECAC All-Rookie Team (2016–17 season) ; ECAC Best Defensive Forward (2017–18) ; ECAC Best Defensive Forward (2018–19) ; Top Ten Hobey Baker Award Finalist (2019) ; Finalist for the ECAC Hockey Player of the Year Award (2019) ; Named to the ECAC Hockey All-Tournament Team (2019) ; ECAC First-Team All-League selection (2019).
How many championships has Nico Sturm won?
3: Clark Cup with the Tri-City Storm (2015–16 season); Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche (2022); Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers (2025).
Where did Nico Sturm play before turning pro?
ESV Kaufbeuren (DNL) 2011–2014; Corpus Christi IceRays (NAHL); Austin Bruins (NAHL); Tri-City Storm (USHL) — signed and played in 2015–16; Clarkson University (ECAC) 2016–2019.
How many points is Nico Sturm projected to score in 2026-27?
Our projection has him at 11 points in 57 games in 2026-27 (2 to 21 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)