Not on an NHL roster · Left wing · Shoots L

Nathan Walker

Age 32 · 5'9" · 191 lb · Born in Cardiff, GBR

Cap hit

$888K

0.9% of $104M cap

Term

2 yrs

Through 2027-28, then UFA

Clause

None

Surplus value

+$1.484M

vs. $2.372M market estimate

Confirmed by the public signing announcement · source

2025-26 regular season

Goals

10.5% shooting

Assists

4 primary

Points

0.24 per game

TOI/GP

11:59

PP 0:03 · PK 1:01

xGF%

47.7

5v5, +0.1 vs. last yr

Game Score

-0.07

per game, goals above average

Faceoff %

54.4

56 W · 47 L

Plus/minus

-9

Blocks 35 · Hits 179

Game log

Last 5 games · NHL API

Game	SOG	HIT	BLK	TOI	PP	PK	FO	OZS%	GV	+/-	GS
Apr 16 @ UTA · W 5-3	0	5	1	14:23	0:00	0:00	0-1	57	2	0	-0.13
Apr 14 vs PIT · W 7-5	0	3	1	11:39	0:00	0:00	3-0	67	0	0	-0.23
Apr 9 vs WPG · L 3-2	2	4	0	10:43	0:00	0:28	2-2	33	0	-1	-0.23
Apr 3 @ ANA · W 6-2	1	6	1	9:58	0:00	1:48	—	0	2	-2	-0.27
Mar 26 vs SJS · W 2-1	0	1	1	10:19	0:00	0:00	—	40	1	-1	-0.25

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 · 491 min · percentile vs. NHL forwards

xGF%47.7%

38th percentile

Relative xGF%-1.8

38th percentile

HDCF%50.7%

60th percentile

CF%44.9%

14th percentile

Relative CF%-4.1

18th percentile

FF%47.0%

28th percentile

GF%39.6%

17th percentile

CF/6045.6

4th percentile

CA/6056.0

64th percentile

ixG/600.59

11th percentile

Goals above expected-0.8

47th percentile

IPP57.9%

29th percentile

PDO95.7

10th percentile

OZS%35.3%

11th 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 agitator

Trait percentiles vs. NHL wingers · 2025-26

Walker is a relentless forechecking presence and physical force who plays a no-nonsense checking game. He struggles to generate offense through volume shooting and playmaking, making him a depth role player focused on disruption and effort.

physicalforecheckinglimited offensedepth forward

Shooting volume: 7
Playmaking: 34
Zone entries(est.): 17
Forechecking: 98
Physicality: 97
Defensive impact: 76
Puck management: 27
Speed: 71

Where he shoots from

Slot 52% · Mid-range 25% · Perimeter 23%(61 unblocked shots)

Strengths

Forechecking ranks 98th percentile among wingers
Physicality at 97th percentile sets physical tone
Defensive impact at 76th percentile provides value

Watch-outs

Shooting volume at just 7th percentile limits scoring chance creation
Rush chances at 17th percentile shows difficulty entering zone cleanly
Playmaking at 34th percentile means limited setup ability

Similar style: Cole Reinhardt, Zachary Aston-Reese

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 · 46 GP · goals above average

Season total -3.1 goals, or -0.07 per game.

Even strength offense: -0.8
Even strength defense: +0.5
Penalty kill: +0.1
Finishing: -0.8
Playmaking: -1.2
Penalties: -0.9
Faceoffs: +0.1

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
2025-26	STL	46	4	7	11	-9	38	11:59	54.4%	-0.07
2024-25	STL	73	8	8	16	-5	72	12:06	52.6%	-0.04
2023-24	STL	45	7	6	13	-1	43	10:49	—	+0.00
2022-23	STL	56	2	8	10	+10	43	10:17	53.7%	-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 forwards · production index

202937

At 32, forwards typically produce 74% of their peak (age 24). His contract runs through age 33, when the typical level is 69%.

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: 22.8 mph; 79th pct
20+ mph bursts: 67
Hardest shot: 82.7 mph; 34th pct
Distance: 86.8 mi
OZ time: 39.8%; 17th pct
DZ time: 42.4%