PuckSleuth
26

Vegas Golden Knights · Center · Shoots R

Nic Dowd

Age 36 · 6'2" · 195 lb · Born in Huntsville, USA

Cap hit

$3M

2.9% of $104M cap

Term

1 yr

Through 2026-27, then UFA

Clause

None

Surplus value

+$644K

vs. $3.644M market estimate

Confirmed by the public signing announcement · source

2026-27 regular season

GP

1

Goals

0

Assists

1

1 primary

Points

1

1.00 per game

TOI/GP

12:37

PP 0:01 · PK 1:15

xGF%

32.8

5v5, -13.3 vs. last yr

Game Score

+0.34

per game, goals above average

Faceoff %

—

8 W · 7 L

Plus/minus

0

Blocks 0 · Hits 2

Game log

Last 5 games · NHL API

GameGASOGHITBLKTOIPPPKFOOZS%GVTK+/-GS
Sep 29
vs CHI · W 5-2
0102012:370:011:158-750100+0.34
Jun 14
vs CAR · L 3-0
0002111:290:001:142-40100+0.01
Jun 11
@ CAR · L 4-2
0025015:050:003:515-70000-0.20
Jun 9
vs CAR · L 5-3
0003010:330:000:514-43310+1-0.34
Jun 6
vs CAR · W 5-4
0018219:400:001:258-7020-1-0.18

GS = our Game Score, goals above average. FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.

Advanced metrics

5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 883 min · percentile vs. NHL forwards

xGF%46.2%

26th percentile

Relative xGF%-8.0

9th percentile

HDCF%37.9%

7th percentile

CF%49.2%

50th percentile

Relative CF%-3.8

20th percentile

FF%49.6%

53rd percentile

GF%42.9%

24th percentile

CF/6054.5

42nd percentile

CA/6056.3

62nd percentile

ixG/600.52

7th percentile

Goals above expected-2.7

23rd percentile

IPP76.2%

86th percentile

PDO98.5

34th percentile

OZS%24.9%

3rd percentile

xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.

Play styleDefensive-minded depth center

Trait percentiles vs. NHL centers · 2025-26

Dowd wins pucks with relentless forechecking and physicality while generating chances through rush attacks, but offers little offensive creation or shooting threat. He's a reliable defensive presence who limits scoring chances against more than he generates for.

GrinderRush attackerDefensive anchor
Shooting volume
6
Playmaking
11
Zone entries(est.)
79
Forechecking
76
Physicality
75
Defensive impact
73
Puck management
73
Speed
33

Where he shoots from

Slot 56% · Mid-range 28% · Perimeter 16%(106 unblocked shots)

Strengths

  • Excellent rush chances creation at 79th percentile shows transition speed efficiency
  • Strong forechecking and physicality (76th and 75th) drive possession advantages
  • Solid defensive impact at 73rd percentile limits opponent chances

Watch-outs

  • Shooting volume at just 6th percentile means minimal scoring punch
  • Playmaking ranks 11th, constraining offensive setup ability for linemates
  • Speed at 33rd percentile limits his individual pace relative to peers

Similar style: Barclay Goodrow (SJS), Jack Finley

Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.

Where his Game Score comes from

2025-26 · 75 GP · goals above average

Season total -11.0 goals, or -0.15 per game.

Even strength offense
-1.6
Even strength defense
+0.6
Power play
-0.1
Penalty kill
-1.0
Finishing
-2.7
Playmaking
-4.4
Penalties
-1.7
Faceoffs
-0.2

Game Score adds up a player's impact in goals compared with an average player given the same ice time: his share of expected goals for and against at even strength, on the power play, and on the penalty kill, plus finishing (goals minus expected goals), primary assists, penalties drawn and taken, and faceoffs. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.

By season

Regular season

SeasonTeamGPGAP+/-SOGTOI/GPFO%GS/GP
2026-27VGK10110012:37—+0.34
2025-26VGK, WSH7551621-46614:3349.2%-0.15
2024-25WSH82141327+78615:1149.9%-0.03
2023-24WSH64121022-26115:1248.1%-0.04
2022-23WSH65131225+66213:2150.8%+0.08

Sentiment & chatter

Fans

—

Beat writers

—

Media

—

Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.

Age curve

NHL forwards · production index

202937

At 36, forwards typically produce 49% of their peak (age 24).

From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.

Skating · NHL EDGE

2026-27, as of Oct 2

Top speed
20.4 mph
41st pct
20+ mph bursts
1
Hardest shot
—
Distance
2.1 mi
OZ time
34.9%
7th pct
DZ time
48.0%