Sam
Lafferty
C · FLA · Balanced · Very poor
- PAL
- 9
- WAR
- -0.1
- Value
- 12
- PTS
- 2
2025-26№ 477 / 615
Sam Lafferty (Florida Panthers) stats and profile: offensive production, ice time, advanced stats, WAR and PAL rating.
Sam Lafferty
#18CPlays: Centre and winger · 38% of faceoffs
Florida Panthers
HEIGHT : 188 cm · WEIGHT : 93 kg · SHOOTS : R
Born : March 5, 1995 · Hollidaysburg, United States
Drafted : 2014 · PIT · round 4, pick #113
Contract : $850,000 · 2026-27 → 2026-27 · Two-Way Contract · UFA
NHL record
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | Florida Panthers | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 2025-26 | Chicago Blackhawks | 29 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 14 |
| 2024-25 | Buffalo Sabres | 60 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 28 |
| 2023-24 | Vancouver Canucks | 79 | 13 | 11 | 24 | 32 |
| 2022-23 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 19 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 9 |
| 2022-23 | Chicago Blackhawks | 51 | 10 | 11 | 21 | 28 |
| 2021-22 | Chicago Blackhawks | 46 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 21 |
| 2021-22 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 10 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 16 |
| 2020-21 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 34 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 25 |
| 2019-20 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 50 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 23 |
| NHL totals | 383 | 41 | 51 | 92 | 200 | |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | Vancouver Canucks | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2022-23 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 9 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| 2019-20 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Playoff totals | 21 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
Sam Lafferty: our analysis
2025-26 season: 29 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 2 PTS, -2 +/-, 8:36 TOI. WAR -0.1 (477th of 615) · PAL 9, very poor.
In 2025-26, Sam Lafferty, 31, posts a PAL Rating of 9 out of 100 (very poor), and his WAR of -0.1 ranks 477th among 615 regulars, in the bottom quarter.
His strengths: defense (72, above average). On the other hand, creation (4, among the weakest in the league) and offense (8, among the weakest in the league) hold him back.
Breaking down his WAR (goals above average), his biggest contribution: EV defense (+0.3); his biggest cost: EV offense (-1.5).
An improvement on 2024-25, when his PAL was 5; his WAR went from -0.5 to -0.1.
Contract-wise, his Value score of 12 (very poor return) weighs his output against what he costs: 50 is what that salary should buy.
Sam Lafferty's story
Growing up in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, Sam Lafferty moved from his local high school to Deerfield Academy, where he turned into a reliable scorer and playmaker. Over three seasons at Deerfield he produced 38 goals and 57 assists in 74 games, a prep résumé that helped propel him into the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.
Instead of turning pro immediately, Lafferty spent four seasons with the Brown Bears. He played every game as a freshman and gradually increased his offensive role, culminating in a breakout junior year when he led his team in points and assists and earned All‑ECAC and All‑Ivy honours. He finished his collegiate career with both athletic and academic recognition and was named a regional award semifinalist.
On 7 March 2018 he ended his college eligibility to sign an amateur tryout with Wilkes‑Barre/Scranton and a two‑year entry‑level contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He scored his first professional goal on 3 April 2018 and posted 49 points in 70 AHL games in his first full pro season. Lafferty made his NHL debut on 8 October 2019 and registered his first NHL goal and assist on 12 October 2019.
His NHL journey has included multiple trades and short‑term moves: a trade to Chicago on 5 January 2022, a February 2023 move to Toronto, a trade to Vancouver in October 2023, and a multi‑player transaction that sent him back to Chicago in June 2024. He then signed a two‑year deal with Buffalo on 1 July 2024, returned to Chicago via trade on 1 July 2025, and later agreed to a one‑year, two‑way contract with the Florida Panthers for 2026–27.
On the ice, Lafferty projects as an offensively oriented forward who creates chances and blends into transition attacks. His track record shows adaptability across roles and teams, contributing playmaking and pace when asked to drive secondary scoring.
Facts drawn from Wikipédia, told in our own words.
Advanced stats
- TOI/GP
- 10:03
- PP TOI/GP
- 0:00
- SH TOI/GP
- 0:25
- Pts/GP
- 0.00
- EV points
- 0
- Hits
- 6
- Blocks
- 4
- Takeaways
- 0
- Corsi % (SAT)
- 40.7 %
- Off. zone starts
- 38.6 %
- Faceoffs
- 25.0 %
Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)
2026-27 projection
Projected points
4between 0 and 15 (80% range)
- Goals
- 2
- Assists
- 2
- Games
- 40
So far: 0 pts in 5 games. The team has played 18 of 84 games. Projected pace: 0.12 pts per game (last season: 0.07).
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: 0.30 in 23-24, 0.07 in 25-26
- PAL Rating: 5 → 9
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 73 %
57
Replacement or prospect
- SK
- Skating
- 84
- Confidence 73 %
- ST
- Strength
- 87
- Confidence 77 %
- EN
- Endurance
- 44
- Confidence 80 %
- DU
- Durability
- 63
- Confidence 77 %
- CK
- Checking
- 84
- Confidence 77 %
- FG
- Fighting
- 79
- Confidence 59 %
- DI
- Discipline
- 65
- Confidence 77 %
- FO
- Faceoffs
- 73
- Confidence 72 %
- PA
- Passing
- 48
- Confidence 73 %
- SC
- Scoring
- 63
- Confidence 73 %
- DF
- Defense
- 80
- Confidence 69 %
- PS
- Penalty shot
- 76
- Confidence 0 %
- EX
- Experience
- 76
- Confidence 100 %
Why these ratings?Hide details
SK — Skating84
- Top speed (35 %)36.3 · 77
- Bursts > 20 mph /60 (30 %)9.769 · 87
- Distance /60 (20 %)16.8 · 86
- Speed consistency (15 %)35.1 · 71
ST — Strength87
- Contact absorbed /60 (50 %)5.465 · 86
- Body mass (50 %)0.243 · 80
EN — Endurance44
- Ice time per game (45 %)11.9 · 54
- Total ice time (20 %)244 · 35
- Shift length (15 %)41.9 · 61
- Lowest recent ice time per game (15 %)9.505 · 44
- Special-teams time per game (5 %)1.243 · 56
DU — Durability63
- Share of games played (100 %)0.718 · 63
CK — Checking84
- Hits /60 (70 %)7.738 · 85
- Lowest seasonal rate (20 %)6.64 · 86
- Season volume (10 %)3.584 · 67
FG — Fighting79
- Fights per 82 games (100 %)0.908 · 79
DI — Discipline65
- Net penalty value /60 (50 %)-0.008 · 66
- Penalties taken /60 (30 %)0.763 · 67
- Penalties drawn /60 (20 %)0.716 · 73
FO — Faceoffs73
- Faceoff % (85 %)49.5 · 74
- Faceoffs /60 (15 %)26.5 · 66
PA — Passing48
- Primary assists /60 (40 %)0.407 · 52
- Secondary assists /60 (20 %)0.406 · 69
- Offensive creation (RAPM) (20 %)-0.169 · 46
- Power-play points /60 (10 %)4.153 · 70
- Assist consistency (10 %)0.209 · 55
SC — Scoring63
- Goals /60 (25 %)0.665 · 68
- Individual xG /60 (20 %)0.59 · 58
- Finishing (goals − xG per shot) (20 %)0.114 · 80
- High-danger chances /60 (15 %)0.825 · 52
- xG per shot (10 %)0.081 · 68
- Shot attempts /60 (10 %)10.1 · 60
DF — Defense80
- RAPM defense /60 (35 %)0.005 · 74
- Relative xG against (20 %)-0.253 · 88
- On-ice xG against /60 (15 %)2.51 · 80
- Penalty kill /60 (10 %)0.068 · 85
- Takeaways − giveaways /60 (10 %)-1.43 · 74
- Shot attempts against /60 (5 %)56 · 84
- Blocked shots /60 (5 %)2.295 · 69
PS — Penalty shot76
- Shootouts (60 %)32.7 · 76
- Penalty shots (40 %)26.7 · 76
EX — Experience76
- Career regular-season games (65 %)84
- Career playoff games (25 %)58
- NHL seasons (10 %)71
OV — Overall57
- SC · Scoring (20 %)63
- PA · Passing (20 %)48
- DF · Defense (20 %)80
- SK · Skating (12 %)84
- FO · Faceoffs (10 %)73
- EN · Endurance (8 %)44
- DI · Discipline (5 %)65
- ST · Strength (3 %)87
- CK · Checking (2 %)84
| Season | OV | SK | SC | DF |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 57 | 84 | 63 | 80 |
| 2024-25 | 62 | 89 | 67 | 77 |
| 2023-24 | 70 | 91 | 74 | 76 |
| 2022-23 | 71 | 88 | 67 | 71 |
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
477 of 615
PAL Rating
9/ 100
Performance · Very poor
432 of 476 at the position
Value Rating
12/ 100
Very poor return
2.00 M$ · expected PAL 48
ProfileBalancedNeither end dominates
- Offense
- 3
- Defense
- 47
See full detailsHide details
- Offense
- 8
- Creation
- 4
- Shooting
- 18
- Possession
- 9
- Defense
- 72
- Discipline
- 23
- Power play
- 42
- Penalty kill
- 28
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 | CHI | -0.1 | 9 | 12 | 2.00 M$ |
| 2024-25 | BUF | -0.5 | 5 | 5 | 2.00 M$ |
| 2023-24 | VAN | 0.3 | 20 | 27 | 1.15 M$ |
| 2022-23 | TOR | 0.6 | 22 | 29 | 1.15 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
0/ 100
Low
passing, shots, puck
Defensive IQ
25/ 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, 410 of 424 forwards.
See full detailsHide details
Offense
- Playmaking passes
- 4
- Shot selection
- 53
- Penalties drawn
- 18
- Puck management
- 0
Defense
- Takeaways
- 18
- Discipline
- 52
- Safe zone exits
- 20
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 | CHI | 3 | 0 | 25 |
| 2024-25 | BUF | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| 2023-24 | VAN | 27 | 64 | 15 |
| 2022-23 | TOR | 12 | 8 | 27 |
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
-0.4 to 0.2 — 90% interval
477 of 615 forwards
-0.6 goals above replacement
Full leaderboard →See full detailsHide details
- EV offense
- -1.5
- EV defense
- +0.3
- Power play
- 0.0
- Penalty kill
- 0.0
- Shooting
- +0.1
- Penalties
- -0.2
- Average → replacement
- +0.6
In goals.
| Season | Team | GP | WAR | 90% interval | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | CHI | 29 | -0.1 | -0.4 to 0.2 | 477/615 |
| 2024-25 | BUF | 56 | -0.5 | -1.1 to 0.1 | 556/596 |
| 2023-24 | VAN | 79 | 0.3 | -0.4 to 1.5 | 260/608 |
| 2022-23 | TOR | 70 | 0.6 | -0.8 to 1.5 | 202/617 |
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
- 120.6 km/h13th percentileleague avg. 130.1 km/h
- Top skating speed
- 35.1 km/h48th percentileleague avg. 35.2 km/h
- Bursts over 20 mph, season
- 413th percentileleague avg. 21
- Offensive zone time
- 38.8 %16th percentileleague avg. 43.1 %
See full detailsHide details
- Total distance, season
- 13.0 km13th percentileleague avg. 52.2 km
- Distance, single-game high
- 3.77 km25th percentileleague avg. 4.52 km
- Offensive zone at 5v5
- 39.4 %21st percentileleague avg. 42.4 %
- Neutral zone time
- 17.4 %19th percentileleague avg. 16.8 %
- Defensive zone time
- 43.8 %12th percentileleague avg. 40.1 %
Shooting
| Shots on goal | Goals | Shooting % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All | 414th percentile | 024th percentile | 0.0 %3rd percentile |
| High danger | 115th percentile | 034th percentile | 0.0 %10th percentile |
| Mid range | 119th percentile | 054th percentile | 0.0 %32nd 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
SEA
VAN
CBJ
BUF
MINSam Lafferty: frequently asked questions
How many goals does Sam Lafferty have in 2026-27?
Sam Lafferty has 0 goals and 0 points (0 assists) in 5 games in 2026-27.
How old is Sam Lafferty?
Sam Lafferty is 31 years old: he was born on March 6, 1995.
How tall is Sam Lafferty, and how much does he weigh?
Sam Lafferty is 6'2" (188 cm) and weighs 205 lb (93 kg).
Where is Sam Lafferty from?
United States: Sam Lafferty was born in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, United States.
What team does Sam Lafferty play for?
Sam Lafferty plays for the Florida Panthers in the NHL, at C, wearing number 18.
Is Sam Lafferty injured?
No: Sam Lafferty is not on the latest NHL injury report. This answer is updated throughout the season.
How good is Sam Lafferty?
Sam Lafferty produced -0.1 wins above replacement (WAR) in 2025-26, 477th of 615 players at his position in the NHL. His PAL rating is 9 out of 100: very poor for his position.
How much does Sam Lafferty make?
Sam Lafferty earns $2.0M for the 2025-26 season. His Value Rating is 12 out of 100 (very poor return): it measures the on-field return for that salary, compared with players at his position.
When does Sam Lafferty's contract end?
Sam Lafferty's contract runs through the 2026-27 season; he will then be an unrestricted free agent.
Is Sam Lafferty overpaid?
Yes, his output falls short of what his salary should buy. His Value rating is 12 out of 100 (very poor return), where 50 is the output expected for his salary, compared with players at his position.
Is Sam Lafferty a top-10 player at his position?
No: by WAR, he ranks 477th 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 Sam Lafferty getting better?
Yes: his PAL rating went from 5 in 2024-25 to 9 in 2025-26 (out of 100, 50 = average player at his position).
How has Sam Lafferty played lately?
Over his last 5 games, Sam Lafferty has 0 points (0 goals, 0 assists).
What are Sam Lafferty's career stats?
Over his NHL career, Sam Lafferty has 383 games, 41 goals, 51 assists and 92 points. His best season: 2023-24, with 24 points in 79 games.
Where was Sam Lafferty drafted?
Sam Lafferty was drafted 113th overall (round 4) by Pittsburgh Penguins in 2014.
How does Sam Lafferty perform in the playoffs?
In the playoffs, Sam Lafferty has 21 games and 3 points in his career. His pace (0.14 points per game) is lower than his regular-season pace (0.24).
Which player is most similar to Sam Lafferty?
Ryan Reaves: he is the player at his position whose PAL profile (the 0-to-100 dimensions) is closest to his in 2025-26.
Ryan Reaves's page →Is Sam Lafferty a good fantasy pick?
Probably not, except in deep leagues: our projection has him at 4 points in 2026-27, or 0.10 points per game.
Does Sam Lafferty have siblings?
Yes: his brother-in-law Riley Stillman (current NHL player), his brother-in-law Chase Stillman (current NHL player).
Is Sam Lafferty related to anyone famous?
Yes: Dave Weaver (stepfather, a coach, coached Lafferty growing up); Cory Stillman (father-in-law, former NHL player).
What is Sam Lafferty's nationality?
Sam Lafferty is American.
What awards has Sam Lafferty won?
Selected to the Prep School All-New England team in 2014 ; Selected to the All-ECAC Third Team (2016–17 season) ; Named Third Team All-Ivy League (2016–17 season) ; Named Team MVP at Brown (2016–17 season) ; Semifinalist for the Walter Brown Award (2016–17 season) ; Named ECAC Player of the Week in February 2018 ; Named Second Team All-Ivy (2017–18 season) ; Selected to the ECAC All-Academic Team (2017–18 season).
Where did Sam Lafferty play before turning pro?
Deerfield Academy (three seasons, graduated 2014) ; Brown Bears men's ice hockey team (college, 2014–2018).
How many points is Sam Lafferty projected to score in 2026-27?
Our projection has him at 4 points in 40 games in 2026-27 (0 to 15 points, 80% interval), based on his recent seasons, age and role.
See also: his Florida Panthers teammates
Full roster →
NHL.com ↗ · Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)