Pavel
Buchnevich
L · STL · Balanced · Around average
- PAL
- 43
- WAR
- 1.2
- Value
- 21
- PTS
- 48
2025-26№ 133 / 615
Pavel Buchnevich (St. Louis Blues) stats and profile: offensive production, ice time, advanced stats, WAR and PAL rating.
Pavel Buchnevich
#89LPlays: Left wing · 4% of faceoffs
St. Louis Blues
HEIGHT : 188 cm · WEIGHT : 92 kg · SHOOTS : L
Born : April 16, 1995 · Cherepovets, Russia
Drafted : 2013 · NYR · round 3, pick #75
Contract : $8,000,000 · 2025-26 → 2030-31 · Contract Extension · UFANTC / 20-team NTC / 15-team NTC
NHL record
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | St. Louis Blues | 16 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 0 |
| 2025-26 | St. Louis Blues | 81 | 20 | 28 | 48 | 26 |
| 2024-25 | St. Louis Blues | 76 | 20 | 37 | 57 | 23 |
| 2023-24 | St. Louis Blues | 80 | 27 | 36 | 63 | 48 |
| 2022-23 | St. Louis Blues | 63 | 26 | 41 | 67 | 36 |
| 2021-22 | St. Louis Blues | 73 | 30 | 46 | 76 | 34 |
| 2020-21 | New York Rangers | 54 | 20 | 28 | 48 | 42 |
| 2019-20 | New York Rangers | 68 | 16 | 30 | 46 | 24 |
| 2018-19 | New York Rangers | 64 | 21 | 17 | 38 | 13 |
| 2017-18 | New York Rangers | 74 | 14 | 29 | 43 | 20 |
| 2016-17 | New York Rangers | 41 | 8 | 12 | 20 | 13 |
| NHL totals | 690 | 205 | 308 | 513 | 279 | |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | St. Louis Blues | 7 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 14 |
| 2021-22 | St. Louis Blues | 12 | 1 | 10 | 11 | 6 |
| 2019-20 | New York Rangers | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 2016-17 | New York Rangers | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Playoff totals | 27 | 4 | 16 | 20 | 26 | |
Pavel Buchnevich: our analysis
2025-26 season: 81 GP, 20 G, 28 A, 48 PTS, -10 +/-, 17:56 TOI. WAR 1.2 (133rd of 615) · PAL 43, around average.
In 2025-26, Pavel Buchnevich, 31, posts a PAL Rating of 43 out of 100 (around average), and his WAR of 1.2 ranks 133rd among 615 regulars, in the top quarter.
His strengths: penalty kill (86, among the best in the league). On the other hand, discipline (26, below average) and defense (32, below average) hold him back.
Breaking down his WAR (goals above average), his biggest contribution: EV offense (+4.8); his biggest cost: finishing (-0.8).
A marked decline: his PAL was 56 in 2024-25, against 43 now; his WAR went from 1.8 to 1.2.
Contract-wise, his Value score of 21 (very poor return) weighs his output against what he costs: 50 is what that salary should buy.
Pavel Buchnevich's story
Growing up in Cherepovets, Pavel Buchnevich progressed through the local system with Almaz before stepping into professional duty with Severstal during the 2012–13 KHL season. Those early years paired junior production with gradual exposure to the top Russian league.
Selected 75th overall by the New York Rangers in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, Buchnevich opted to stay in Russia to continue developing. His final KHL campaign included a trade to SKA Saint Petersburg, where he switched his jersey from 89 to 88 and finished the regular season with a strong points total before undergoing surgery on the bursa sac of his left elbow after playoff elimination.
Buchnevich signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Rangers on 13 May 2016 and recorded his first NHL point in his debut on 13 October 2016; his first goal came 5 November 2016. Early seasons in New York were interrupted by back spasms and conditioning assignments in Hartford, and he was shuffled through various lines and roles under different coaches. A two-year extension was agreed on 26 July 2019.
The 2019–20 campaign produced new personal highs in assists and points prior to the COVID-19 pause; a February 2020 car accident sidelined him briefly. On 17 April 2021 he scored his first NHL hat-trick and closed the 2020–21 regular season with a career-best 48 points in 54 games. As a restricted free agent, Buchnevich was traded on 23 July 2021 to the St. Louis Blues for Samuel Blais and a 2022 second-round pick, and he signed a four-year, US$23.2-million extension with St. Louis days later.
With the Blues he started the 2021–22 season well, but his time there has included both suspensions — a two-game ban for head-butting Lawson Crouse — and injury absences, including a concussion in March 2022; later that month he scored his 99th and 100th NHL goals. Internationally, Buchnevich debuted at the 2011 World U-17 Hockey Challenge (gold) and earned bronze at the 2014 World Junior Championship and silver in 2015; at the 2018 World Championships he recorded one goal and three assists in eight games, opening the tournament with a goal and an assist in a 7–0 win over France.
Plainly stated, his game blends playmaking skill with sound positioning: he can drive offence both at even strength and on the power play, and adapts to a variety of roles depending on his team's needs.
Facts drawn from Wikipédia, told in our own words.
Advanced stats
- TOI/GP
- 17:28
- PP TOI/GP
- 2:00
- SH TOI/GP
- 2:10
- Pts/GP
- 0.44
- EV points
- 3
- Hits
- 5
- Blocks
- 9
- Takeaways
- 3
- Corsi % (SAT)
- 51.5 %
- Off. zone starts
- 36.1 %
- Faceoffs
- 14.3 %
Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)
2026-27 projection
Projected points
43between 23 and 62 (80% range)
- Goals
- 17
- Assists
- 26
- Games
- 80
So far: 7 pts in 16 games. The team has played 17 of 84 games. Projected pace: 0.56 pts per game (last season: 0.59).
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
Declining
- Points per game: 0.79 in 23-24, 0.59 in 25-26
- PAL Rating: 56 → 43
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 84 %
78
Established NHL
- SK
- Skating
- 68
- Confidence 73 %
- ST
- Strength
- 64
- Confidence 87 %
- EN
- Endurance
- 86
- Confidence 80 %
- DU
- Durability
- 85
- Confidence 77 %
- CK
- Checking
- 62
- Confidence 87 %
- FG
- Fighting
- 71
- Confidence 65 %
- DI
- Discipline
- 66
- Confidence 87 %
- FO
- Faceoffs
- 46
- Confidence 69 %
- PA
- Passing
- 84
- Confidence 84 %
- SC
- Scoring
- 76
- Confidence 84 %
- DF
- Defense
- 71
- Confidence 82 %
- PS
- Penalty shot
- 69
- Confidence 43 %
- EX
- Experience
- 84
- Confidence 100 %
Why these ratings?Hide details
SK — Skating68
- Top speed (35 %)35.7 · 70
- Bursts > 20 mph /60 (30 %)3.058 · 60
- Distance /60 (20 %)16.2 · 77
- Speed consistency (15 %)34.8 · 67
ST — Strength64
- Contact absorbed /60 (50 %)2.577 · 55
- Body mass (50 %)0.089 · 77
EN — Endurance86
- Ice time per game (45 %)17.2 · 86
- Total ice time (20 %)1,400 · 87
- Shift length (15 %)46.8 · 78
- Lowest recent ice time per game (15 %)16.6 · 87
- Special-teams time per game (5 %)3.697 · 90
DU — Durability85
- Share of games played (100 %)0.871 · 85
CK — Checking62
- Hits /60 (70 %)2.244 · 61
- Lowest seasonal rate (20 %)1.942 · 63
- Season volume (10 %)3.434 · 65
FG — Fighting71
- Fights per 82 games (100 %)0.769 · 71
DI — Discipline66
- Net penalty value /60 (50 %)-0.011 · 65
- Penalties taken /60 (30 %)0.569 · 78
- Penalties drawn /60 (20 %)0.506 · 58
FO — Faceoffs46
- Faceoff % (85 %)43.8 · 47
- Faceoffs /60 (15 %)15 · 49
PA — Passing84
- Primary assists /60 (40 %)0.861 · 81
- Secondary assists /60 (20 %)0.524 · 78
- Offensive creation (RAPM) (20 %)0.253 · 88
- Power-play points /60 (10 %)4.605 · 80
- Assist consistency (10 %)0.755 · 86
SC — Scoring76
- Goals /60 (25 %)0.945 · 76
- Individual xG /60 (20 %)0.881 · 76
- Finishing (goals − xG per shot) (20 %)0.054 · 73
- High-danger chances /60 (15 %)1.457 · 78
- xG per shot (10 %)0.084 · 85
- Shot attempts /60 (10 %)13.2 · 70
DF — Defense71
- RAPM defense /60 (35 %)0.011 · 76
- Relative xG against (20 %)0.151 · 64
- On-ice xG against /60 (15 %)2.691 · 70
- Penalty kill /60 (10 %)0.033 · 67
- Takeaways − giveaways /60 (10 %)-1.466 · 76
- Shot attempts against /60 (5 %)58.1 · 76
- Blocked shots /60 (5 %)2.049 · 70
PS — Penalty shot69
- Shootouts (60 %)33.5 · 85
- Penalty shots (40 %)25.4 · 57
EX — Experience84
- Career regular-season games (65 %)92
- Career playoff games (25 %)63
- NHL seasons (10 %)81
OV — Overall78
- SC · Scoring (28 %)76
- PA · Passing (22 %)84
- DF · Defense (18 %)71
- SK · Skating (12 %)68
- EN · Endurance (8 %)86
- DI · Discipline (5 %)66
- ST · Strength (4 %)64
- CK · Checking (3 %)62
| Season | OV | SK | SC | DF |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 78 | 68 | 76 | 71 |
| 2024-25 | 81 | 74 | 78 | 70 |
| 2023-24 | 85 | 77 | 81 | 77 |
| 2022-23 | 86 | 74 | 83 | 74 |
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
1.2
wins above replacement
133 of 615
PAL Rating
43/ 100
Performance · Around average
256 of 476 at the position
Value Rating
21/ 100
Very poor return
8.00 M$ · expected PAL 72
ProfileBalancedNeither end dominates
- Offense
- 57
- Defense
- 46
See full detailsHide details
- Offense
- 60
- Creation
- 46
- Shooting
- 60
- Possession
- 56
- Defense
- 32
- Discipline
- 26
- Power play
- 60
- Penalty kill
- 86
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 | STL | 1.2 | 43 | 21 | 8.00 M$ |
| 2024-25 | STL | 1.8 | 56 | 32 | 5.80 M$ |
| 2023-24 | STL | 1.5 | 80 | 62 | 5.80 M$ |
| 2022-23 | STL | 3.0 | 80 | 58 | 5.80 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
76/ 100
Very good
better than 76% of forwards, offense and defense combined
Offensive IQ
43/ 100
Average
passing, shots, puck
Defensive IQ
88/ 100
Very good
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, 100 of 424 forwards.
See full detailsHide details
Offense
- Playmaking passes
- 43
- Shot selection
- 78
- Penalties drawn
- 22
- Puck management
- 29
Defense
- Takeaways
- 71
- Discipline
- 72
- Safe zone exits
- 76
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 | STL | 76 | 43 | 88 |
| 2024-25 | STL | 45 | 48 | 46 |
| 2023-24 | STL | 23 | 47 | 20 |
| 2022-23 | STL | 31 | 52 | 23 |
WAR, 2025-26
How it's calculated →Wins added to the team, compared with a replacement-level player called up from the AHL.
1.2
wins above replacement
0.1 to 2.8 — 90% interval
133 of 615 forwards
+6.4 goals above replacement
Full leaderboard →See full detailsHide details
- EV offense
- +4.8
- EV defense
- -0.6
- Power play
- -0.4
- Penalty kill
- +0.1
- Shooting
- -0.8
- Penalties
- -0.5
- Average → replacement
- +3.7
In goals.
| Season | Team | GP | WAR | 90% interval | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | STL | 81 | 1.2 | 0.1 to 2.8 | 133/615 |
| 2024-25 | STL | 74 | 1.8 | 0.8 to 2.9 | 86/596 |
| 2023-24 | STL | 80 | 1.5 | 0.4 to 3.2 | 103/608 |
| 2022-23 | STL | 63 | 3.0 | 1.8 to 4.3 | 31/617 |
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
- 138.9 km/h75th percentileleague avg. 130.1 km/h
- Top skating speed
- 33.9 km/h17th percentileleague avg. 35.2 km/h
- Bursts over 20 mph, season
- 1029th percentileleague avg. 21
- Offensive zone time
- 40.7 %35th percentileleague avg. 43.1 %
See full detailsHide details
- Total distance, season
- 72.4 km74th percentileleague avg. 52.2 km
- Distance, single-game high
- 5.49 km81st percentileleague avg. 4.52 km
- Offensive zone at 5v5
- 41.3 %56th percentileleague avg. 42.4 %
- Neutral zone time
- 17.5 %26th percentileleague avg. 16.8 %
- Defensive zone time
- 41.8 %27th percentileleague avg. 40.1 %
Shooting
| Shots on goal | Goals | Shooting % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All | 2766th percentile | 366th percentile | 11.1 %41st percentile |
| High danger | 963rd percentile | 157th percentile | 11.1 %25th percentile |
| Mid range | 867th percentile | 177th percentile | 12.5 %53rd 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
NSH
NJD
NYR
DET
BOS
MTL
CAR
VGK
WPG
OTT
CBJ
SJS
CHI
COL
DALPavel Buchnevich: frequently asked questions
How many goals does Pavel Buchnevich have in 2026-27?
Pavel Buchnevich has 3 goals and 7 points (4 assists) in 16 games in 2026-27.
How old is Pavel Buchnevich?
Pavel Buchnevich is 31 years old: he was born on April 17, 1995.
How tall is Pavel Buchnevich, and how much does he weigh?
Pavel Buchnevich is 6'2" (188 cm) and weighs 203 lb (92 kg).
Where is Pavel Buchnevich from?
Russia: Pavel Buchnevich was born in Cherepovets, Russia.
What team does Pavel Buchnevich play for?
Pavel Buchnevich plays for the St. Louis Blues in the NHL, at L, wearing number 89.
Is Pavel Buchnevich injured?
No: Pavel Buchnevich is not on the latest NHL injury report. This answer is updated throughout the season.
How good is Pavel Buchnevich?
Pavel Buchnevich produced 1.2 wins above replacement (WAR) in 2025-26, 133rd of 615 players at his position in the NHL. His PAL rating is 43 out of 100: around average for his position.
How much does Pavel Buchnevich make?
Pavel Buchnevich earns $8.0M for the 2025-26 season. His Value Rating is 21 out of 100 (very poor return): it measures the on-field return for that salary, compared with players at his position.
When does Pavel Buchnevich's contract end?
Pavel Buchnevich's contract runs through the 2030-31 season; he will then be an unrestricted free agent. It includes a NTC / 20-team NTC / 15-team NTC clause.
Is Pavel Buchnevich overpaid?
Yes, his output falls short of what his salary should buy. His Value rating is 21 out of 100 (very poor return), where 50 is the output expected for his salary, compared with players at his position.
Is Pavel Buchnevich a top-10 player at his position?
No: by WAR, he ranks 133rd 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 Pavel Buchnevich getting better?
No, he is slipping: his PAL rating went from 56 in 2024-25 to 43 in 2025-26 (out of 100, 50 = average player at his position).
How has Pavel Buchnevich played lately?
Over his last 10 games, Pavel Buchnevich has 2 points (2 goals, 0 assists).
What are Pavel Buchnevich's career stats?
Over his NHL career, Pavel Buchnevich has 690 games, 205 goals, 308 assists and 513 points. His best season: 2021-22, with 76 points in 73 games.
Where was Pavel Buchnevich drafted?
Pavel Buchnevich was drafted 75th overall (round 3) by New York Rangers in 2013.
Is Pavel Buchnevich better at home or on the road?
On the road: in 2026-27, he averages 0.29 points per game at home (2 in 7 games) and 0.56 on the road (5 in 9 games).
How does Pavel Buchnevich perform in the playoffs?
In the playoffs, Pavel Buchnevich has 27 games and 20 points in his career. His pace (0.74 points per game) is similar to his regular-season pace (0.74).
Which player is most similar to Pavel Buchnevich?
Connor Brown: he is the player at his position whose PAL profile (the 0-to-100 dimensions) is closest to his in 2025-26.
Connor Brown's page →Is Pavel Buchnevich a good fantasy pick?
A useful depth pick: our projection has him at 43 points in 2026-27, or 0.54 points per game.
Is Pavel Buchnevich related to anyone famous?
Yes: Yelena Razumova (mother, former competitive skier); Andrey (father, youth soccer coach).
What is Pavel Buchnevich's nationality?
Pavel Buchnevich is Russian. Internationally: Represented Russia at junior and senior levels: gold medal at the 2011 World U-17 Hockey Challenge; bronze medal at the 2014 World Junior Championships; silver medal at the 2015 World Junior Championships; played at the 2018 World Championships (1 goal, 3 assists in 8 games).
Where did Pavel Buchnevich play before turning pro?
Almaz Cherepovets (Junior Hockey League): 102 games; signed with Severstal Cherepovets for the 2012–13 season..
How many points is Pavel Buchnevich projected to score in 2026-27?
Our projection has him at 43 points in 80 games in 2026-27 (23 to 62 points, 80% interval), based on his recent seasons, age and role.
See also: his St. Louis Blues teammates
Full roster →
NHL.com ↗ · Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)