PuckSleuthCap hit
$7M
6.7% of $104M cap
Term
5 yrs
Through 2030-31, then UFA
Clause
NMC
Surplus value
−$567K
vs. $6.433M market estimate
Confirmed by the public signing announcement · source
2026-27 regular season
GP
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
0 primary
Points
0
0.00 per game
TOI/GP
20:53
PP 0:00 · PK 5:02
xGF%
33.2
5v5, -13.6 vs. last yr
Game Score
-0.20
per game, goals above average
Faceoff %
—
Plus/minus
0
Blocks 1 · Hits 2
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1 vs MIN · L 3-1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 20:53 | 0:00 | 5:02 | — | 33 | 1 | 1 | 0 | -0.20 |
| Apr 16 vs ANA · L 5-4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 20:40 | 0:46 | 5:57 | — | 20 | 0 | 0 | -1 | -0.59 |
| Apr 13 vs SJS · L 3-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 23:02 | 0:00 | 1:23 | — | 20 | 5 | 0 | 0 | +0.11 |
| Apr 11 vs MIN · W 2-1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 24:10 | 1:45 | 1:05 | — | 33 | 2 | 1 | 0 | -0.23 |
| Apr 9 @ UTA · L 4-1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 22:47 | 1:33 | 1:34 | — | 50 | 0 | 0 | -1 | -0.28 |
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 · 1,414 min · percentile vs. NHL defensemen
30th percentile
43rd percentile
53rd percentile
38th percentile
21st percentile
25th percentile
44th percentile
44th percentile
33rd percentile
72nd percentile
1st percentile
28th percentile
57th percentile
19th 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 styleOffensive-minded, mobile defenseman
Trait percentiles vs. NHL defensemen · 2025-26
Skjei uses elite speed and solid playmaking to drive transition chances, but lacks the physicality and defensive intensity to be a reliable two-way force. His game relies on getting pucks up ice quickly rather than engaging in the play's tougher areas.
- Shooting volume
- 51
- Playmaking
- 67
- Zone entries(est.)
- 61
- Forechecking
- 18
- Physicality
- 20
- Defensive impact
- 32
- Puck management
- 25
- Speed
- 87
Where he shoots from
Slot 9% · Mid-range 29% · Perimeter 62%(170 unblocked shots)
Strengths
- Elite speed (87th percentile) enables quick gap closes and breakout transitions
- Above-average playmaking (67th percentile) creates secondary scoring chances from the point
- Strong rush chances (61st percentile) show effective transition entry ability
Watch-outs
- Weak forechecking (18th percentile) limits ability to create turnovers in offensive zones
- Low physicality (20th percentile) means minimal shot-blocking and board presence
- Below-average puck management (25th percentile) leads to turnovers in transition
Similar style: Denton Mateychuk (CBJ), Philip Broberg (STL)
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 · 82 GP · goals above average
Season total -7.6 goals, or -0.09 per game.
- Even strength offense
- -0.4
- Even strength defense
- -1.1
- Power play
- -0.3
- Penalty kill
- -0.3
- Finishing
- -3.7
- Playmaking
- +0.4
- Penalties
- -2.1
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
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | P | +/- | SOG | TOI/GP | FO% | GS/GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | NSH | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20:53 | — | -0.20 |
| 2025-26 | NSH | 82 | 3 | 23 | 26 | -7 | 111 | 22:37 | — | -0.09 |
| 2024-25 | NSH | 82 | 10 | 23 | 33 | -24 | 156 | 21:53 | — | -0.02 |
| 2023-24 | CAR | 80 | 13 | 34 | 47 | +15 | 185 | 21:17 | — | +0.09 |
| 2022-23 | CAR | 81 | 18 | 20 | 38 | +7 | 188 | 21:49 | — | +0.07 |
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 defensemen · production index
At 32, defensemen typically produce 81% of their peak (age 24). His contract runs through age 36, when the typical level is 62%.
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
2025-26, as of Oct 2
- Top speed
- 23.4 mph
- 97th pct
- 20+ mph bursts
- 65
- Hardest shot
- 89.7 mph
- 46th pct
- Distance
- 251.4 mi
- OZ time
- 41.4%
- 49th pct
- DZ time
- 40.9%