Paul
Cotter
L · VAN · Limited · Very poor
- PAL
- 5
- WAR
- 0.1
- Value
- 14
- PTS
- 15
2025-26№ 343 / 615
Paul Cotter (Vancouver Canucks) stats and profile: offensive production, ice time, advanced stats, WAR and PAL rating.
Paul Cotter
#47LPlays: Left wing and centre · 33% of faceoffs
Vancouver Canucks
HEIGHT : 188 cm · WEIGHT : 97 kg · SHOOTS : L
Born : November 15, 1999 · Canton, United States
Drafted : 2018 · VGK · round 4, pick #115
Contract : $2,150,000 · 2026-27 → 2026-27 · Standard Contract · UFA
NHL record
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | Vancouver Canucks | 18 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 27 |
| 2025-26 | New Jersey Devils | 79 | 9 | 6 | 15 | 19 |
| 2024-25 | New Jersey Devils | 79 | 16 | 6 | 22 | 62 |
| 2023-24 | Vegas Golden Knights | 76 | 7 | 18 | 25 | 41 |
| 2022-23 | Vegas Golden Knights | 55 | 13 | 5 | 18 | 15 |
| 2021-22 | Vegas Golden Knights | 7 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| NHL totals | 314 | 51 | 39 | 90 | 170 | |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | New Jersey Devils | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Playoff totals | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
Honours
- 🏆 Stanley Cuponce · 2022-23
Paul Cotter: our analysis
2025-26 season: 79 GP, 9 G, 6 A, 15 PTS, -24 +/-, 10:41 TOI. WAR 0.1 (343rd of 615) · PAL 5, very poor.
In 2025-26, Paul Cotter, 26, posts a PAL Rating of 5 out of 100 (very poor), and his WAR of 0.1 ranks 343rd among 615 regulars, in the bottom half.
His strengths: discipline (97, among the best in the league). On the other hand, possession (2, among the weakest in the league) and offense (11, among the weakest in the league) hold him back.
Breaking down his WAR (goals above average), his biggest contribution: penalties (+1.7); his biggest cost: EV offense (-2.4).
A marked decline: his PAL was 14 in 2024-25, against 5 now; his WAR went from 0.5 to 0.1.
Contract-wise, his Value score of 14 (very poor return) weighs his output against what he costs: 50 is what that salary should buy.
Paul Cotter's story
Born in Canton, Michigan, Paul Cotter came up through North American junior ranks, earning early recognition with a standout season in the NAHL before moving on to the USHL. In 2017–18 he produced 18 goals and 39 points in 51 games with the Lincoln Stars, a performance that helped put him on NHL radars ahead of the draft.
Vegas selected him in the fourth round, 115th overall, in 2018. Cotter initially enrolled at Western Michigan University for 2018–19 and played eight NCAA games, recording one assist, but opted in November to join the London Knights of the OHL to accelerate his path toward a professional contract. With London he appeared in 48 games and collected 9 goals and 17 assists, then took part in the club’s postseason run.
He turned pro with the Chicago Wolves in 2019–20 and later skated for the Henderson Silver Knights; both AHL stops came in seasons disrupted by the pandemic. Vegas recalled Cotter in 2021 and he made his NHL debut on November 9, 2021; two days later he scored his first NHL goal against the Minnesota Wild. Cotter spent the full 2022–23 regular season on Vegas’s roster, playing 55 games and scoring 13 goals, enough to secure his name on the Stanley Cup after the Golden Knights captured the title despite Cotter not appearing in playoff contests.
On June 29, 2024, Vegas traded him to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Alexander Holtz and Akira Schmid. Cotter later signed a one-year deal with the Vancouver Canucks on July 1, 2026; in his Vancouver debut on September 29 he scored twice, including the overtime winner in a 6–5 victory over Edmonton, and his early run earned him the NHL’s third star of the week ending October 4.
Cotter’s game is straightforward: years in juniors and the AHL shaped a winger who seeks the high-danger areas and finishes chances around the net. He blends physical intent with an eye for goal, the type of profile that translated into regular minutes in the NHL and a role on successful teams.
Facts drawn from Wikipédia, told in our own words.
Advanced stats
- TOI/GP
- 14:03
- PP TOI/GP
- 1:12
- SH TOI/GP
- 0:29
- Pts/GP
- 0.44
- EV points
- 5
- Hits
- 60
- Blocks
- 2
- Takeaways
- 2
- Corsi % (SAT)
- 38.5 %
- Off. zone starts
- 21.6 %
- Faceoffs
- 50.0 %
Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)
2026-27 projection
Projected points
22between 10 and 34 (80% range)
- Goals
- 11
- Assists
- 11
- Games
- 80
So far: 8 pts in 18 games. The team has played 19 of 84 games. Projected pace: 0.23 pts per game (last season: 0.19).
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: 0.33 in 23-24, 0.19 in 25-26
- PAL Rating: 14 → 5
Outlook, age included
→ StableAge 26: 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 78 %
56
Replacement or prospect
- SK
- Skating
- 89
- Confidence 73 %
- ST
- Strength
- 94
- Confidence 81 %
- EN
- Endurance
- 62
- Confidence 80 %
- DU
- Durability
- 79
- Confidence 77 %
- CK
- Checking
- 90
- Confidence 81 %
- FG
- Fighting
- 80
- Confidence 64 %
- DI
- Discipline
- 79
- Confidence 81 %
- FO
- Faceoffs
- 76
- Confidence 42 %
- PA
- Passing
- 37
- Confidence 78 %
- SC
- Scoring
- 68
- Confidence 78 %
- DF
- Defense
- 69
- Confidence 74 %
- PS
- Penalty shot
- 87
- Confidence 56 %
- EX
- Experience
- 67
- Confidence 100 %
Why these ratings?Hide details
SK — Skating89
- Top speed (35 %)37 · 87
- Bursts > 20 mph /60 (30 %)9.491 · 91
- Distance /60 (20 %)16.3 · 80
- Speed consistency (15 %)36 · 84
ST — Strength94
- Contact absorbed /60 (50 %)6.66 · 97
- Body mass (50 %)0.653 · 82
EN — Endurance62
- Ice time per game (45 %)12.3 · 59
- Total ice time (20 %)822 · 69
- Shift length (15 %)45 · 70
- Lowest recent ice time per game (15 %)11.1 · 57
- Special-teams time per game (5 %)0.76 · 47
DU — Durability79
- Share of games played (100 %)0.841 · 79
CK — Checking90
- Hits /60 (70 %)11.9 · 89
- Lowest seasonal rate (20 %)12.1 · 93
- Season volume (10 %)5.263 · 89
FG — Fighting80
- Fights per 82 games (100 %)0.951 · 80
DI — Discipline79
- Net penalty value /60 (50 %)0.037 · 80
- Penalties taken /60 (30 %)0.752 · 71
- Penalties drawn /60 (20 %)0.975 · 83
FO — Faceoffs76
- Faceoff % (85 %)50.9 · 78
- Faceoffs /60 (15 %)14.5 · 47
PA — Passing37
- Primary assists /60 (40 %)0.4 · 49
- Secondary assists /60 (20 %)0.321 · 57
- Offensive creation (RAPM) (20 %)-0.098 · 47
- Power-play points /60 (10 %)4.107 · 70
- Assist consistency (10 %)0.22 · 56
SC — Scoring68
- Goals /60 (25 %)0.81 · 68
- Individual xG /60 (20 %)0.722 · 63
- Finishing (goals − xG per shot) (20 %)0.373 · 79
- High-danger chances /60 (15 %)1.21 · 70
- xG per shot (10 %)0.08 · 75
- Shot attempts /60 (10 %)12.2 · 64
DF — Defense69
- RAPM defense /60 (35 %)-0.097 · 61
- Relative xG against (20 %)0.017 · 74
- On-ice xG against /60 (15 %)2.594 · 76
- Penalty kill /60 (10 %)0.035 · 70
- Takeaways − giveaways /60 (10 %)-1.055 · 86
- Shot attempts against /60 (5 %)58 · 77
- Blocked shots /60 (5 %)1.995 · 69
PS — Penalty shot87
- Shootouts (60 %)34.7 · 88
- Penalty shots (40 %)26.7 · 76
EX — Experience67
- Career regular-season games (65 %)80
- Career playoff games (25 %)34
- NHL seasons (10 %)61
OV — Overall56
- SC · Scoring (28 %)68
- PA · Passing (22 %)37
- DF · Defense (18 %)69
- SK · Skating (12 %)89
- EN · Endurance (8 %)62
- DI · Discipline (5 %)79
- ST · Strength (4 %)94
- CK · Checking (3 %)90
| Season | OV | SK | SC | DF |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 56 | 89 | 68 | 69 |
| 2024-25 | 68 | 84 | 75 | 73 |
| 2023-24 | 69 | 81 | 71 | 66 |
| 2022-23 | 63 | 79 | 80 | 57 |
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
0.1
wins above replacement
343 of 615
PAL Rating
5/ 100
Performance · Very poor
452 of 476 at the position
Value Rating
14/ 100
Very poor return
0.78 M$ · expected PAL 32
ProfileLimitedBelow average at both ends
- Offense
- 11
- Defense
- 9
See full detailsHide details
- Offense
- 11
- Creation
- 36
- Shooting
- 39
- Possession
- 2
- Defense
- 18
- Discipline
- 97
- Power play
- 43
- Penalty kill
- 17
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 | NJD | 0.1 | 5 | 14 | 0.78 M$ |
| 2024-25 | NJD | 0.5 | 14 | 30 | 0.78 M$ |
| 2023-24 | VGK | -1.5 | 13 | 25 | 0.78 M$ |
| 2022-23 | VGK | 0.4 | 6 | 14 | 0.76 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
51/ 100
Average
better than 51% of forwards, offense and defense combined
Offensive IQ
52/ 100
Average
passing, shots, puck
Defensive IQ
49/ 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, 206 of 424 forwards.
See full detailsHide details
Offense
- Playmaking passes
- 3
- Shot selection
- 46
- Penalties drawn
- 83
- Puck management
- 64
Defense
- Takeaways
- 6
- Discipline
- 64
- Safe zone exits
- 80
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 | NJD | 51 | 52 | 49 |
| 2024-25 | NJD | 17 | 25 | 26 |
| 2023-24 | VGK | 48 | 39 | 56 |
| 2022-23 | VGK | 63 | 56 | 66 |
WAR, 2025-26
How it's calculated →Wins added to the team, compared with a replacement-level player called up from the AHL.
0.1
wins above replacement
-0.8 to 1.2 — 90% interval
343 of 615 forwards
+0.5 goals above replacement
Full leaderboard →See full detailsHide details
- EV offense
- -2.4
- EV defense
- -1.5
- Power play
- -0.0
- Penalty kill
- 0.0
- Shooting
- +0.6
- Penalties
- +1.7
- Average → replacement
- +2.2
In goals.
| Season | Team | GP | WAR | 90% interval | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | NJD | 79 | 0.1 | -0.8 to 1.2 | 343/615 |
| 2024-25 | NJD | 76 | 0.5 | -0.4 to 1.7 | 231/596 |
| 2023-24 | VGK | 76 | -1.5 | -2.2 to -0.2 | 603/608 |
| 2022-23 | VGK | 55 | 0.4 | -0.8 to 1.9 | 228/617 |
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
- 140.4 km/h81st percentileleague avg. 130.1 km/h
- Top skating speed
- 36.4 km/h82nd percentileleague avg. 35.2 km/h
- Bursts over 20 mph, season
- 5094th percentileleague avg. 21
- Offensive zone time
- 38.4 %13th percentileleague avg. 43.1 %
See full detailsHide details
- Total distance, season
- 67.3 km65th percentileleague avg. 52.2 km
- Distance, single-game high
- 4.65 km54th percentileleague avg. 4.52 km
- Offensive zone at 5v5
- 37.1 %4th percentileleague avg. 42.4 %
- Neutral zone time
- 16.6 %2nd percentileleague avg. 16.8 %
- Defensive zone time
- 45.0 %7th percentileleague avg. 40.1 %
Shooting
| Shots on goal | Goals | Shooting % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All | 1335th percentile | 474th percentile | 30.8 %99th percentile |
| High danger | 539th percentile | 386th percentile | 60.0 %98th percentile |
| Mid range | 550th percentile | 177th percentile | 20.0 %76th percentile |
| Long range | 031st 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
EDM
WPG
ANA
TOR
SJS
DET
CAR
TBL
FLA
NYI
NYR
NJD
VGK
CGYPaul Cotter: frequently asked questions
How many goals does Paul Cotter have in 2026-27?
Paul Cotter has 4 goals and 8 points (4 assists) in 18 games in 2026-27.
How old is Paul Cotter?
Paul Cotter is 26 years old: he was born on November 16, 1999.
How tall is Paul Cotter, and how much does he weigh?
Paul Cotter is 6'2" (188 cm) and weighs 214 lb (97 kg).
Where is Paul Cotter from?
United States: Paul Cotter was born in Canton, Michigan, United States.
What team does Paul Cotter play for?
Paul Cotter plays for the Vancouver Canucks in the NHL, at L, wearing number 47.
Is Paul Cotter injured?
No: Paul Cotter is not on the latest NHL injury report. This answer is updated throughout the season.
How good is Paul Cotter?
Paul Cotter produced 0.1 wins above replacement (WAR) in 2025-26, 343rd of 615 players at his position in the NHL. His PAL rating is 5 out of 100: very poor for his position.
How much does Paul Cotter make?
Paul Cotter earns $775K for the 2025-26 season. His Value Rating is 14 out of 100 (very poor return): it measures the on-field return for that salary, compared with players at his position.
When does Paul Cotter's contract end?
Paul Cotter's contract runs through the 2026-27 season; he will then be an unrestricted free agent.
Is Paul Cotter overpaid?
Yes, his output falls short of what his salary should buy. His Value rating is 14 out of 100 (very poor return), where 50 is the output expected for his salary, compared with players at his position.
Is Paul Cotter a top-10 player at his position?
No: by WAR, he ranks 343rd 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 Paul Cotter getting better?
No, he is slipping: his PAL rating went from 14 in 2024-25 to 5 in 2025-26 (out of 100, 50 = average player at his position).
How has Paul Cotter played lately?
Over his last 10 games, Paul Cotter has 2 points (0 goals, 2 assists).
What are Paul Cotter's career stats?
Over his NHL career, Paul Cotter has 314 games, 51 goals, 39 assists and 90 points. His best season: 2023-24, with 25 points in 76 games.
Where was Paul Cotter drafted?
Paul Cotter was drafted 115th overall (round 4) by Vegas Golden Knights in 2018.
Is Paul Cotter better at home or on the road?
At home: in 2026-27, he averages 0.71 points per game at home (5 in 7 games) and 0.27 on the road (3 in 11 games).
How does Paul Cotter perform in the playoffs?
In the playoffs, Paul Cotter has 5 games and 1 point in his career. His pace (0.20 points per game) is lower than his regular-season pace (0.29).
Which player is most similar to Paul Cotter?
Ben Jones: he is the player at his position whose PAL profile (the 0-to-100 dimensions) is closest to his in 2025-26.
Ben Jones's page →Is Paul Cotter a good fantasy pick?
Probably not, except in deep leagues: our projection has him at 22 points in 2026-27, or 0.28 points per game.
What is Paul Cotter's nationality?
Paul Cotter is American.
What awards has Paul Cotter won?
League third star of the week (week ending October 4, 2026).
How many championships has Paul Cotter won?
1: Stanley Cup 2023 with the Vegas Golden Knights.
Where did Paul Cotter play before turning pro?
Lincoln Stars (USHL, draft-eligible season); Western Michigan University (began 2018–19 season, 8 games); London Knights (OHL, signed November 2018).
How many points is Paul Cotter projected to score in 2026-27?
Our projection has him at 22 points in 80 games in 2026-27 (10 to 34 points, 80% interval), based on his recent seasons, age and role.
See also: his Vancouver Canucks teammates
Full roster →
NHL.com ↗ · Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)