Not on an NHL roster · Center · Shoots R

Sam Lafferty

Age 31 · 6'2" · 205 lb · Born in Hollidaysburg, USA

Cap hit

$850K

0.8% of $104M cap

Term

1 yr

Through 2026-27, then UFA

Clause

None

Surplus value

+$427K

vs. $1.277M market estimate

Contract details from our records; public announcement not yet matched

2025-26 regular season

Goals

11.1% shooting

Assists

0 primary

Points

0.07 per game

TOI/GP

8:36

PP 0:01 · PK 0:00

xGF%

40.4

5v5, -0.1 vs. last yr

Game Score

-0.07

per game, goals above average

Faceoff %

50.0

26 W · 26 L

Plus/minus

-2

Blocks 5 · Hits 35

Game log

Last 5 games · NHL API

Game	SOG	HIT	TOI	PP	PK	FO	OZS%	+/-	GS
Apr 15 vs SJS · W 5-2	0	0	8:44	0:00	0:00	2-2	50	0	-0.11
Apr 11 vs STL · L 5-3	1	1	9:33	0:00	0:00	—	100	-2	-0.04
Mar 31 vs WPG · OTL 4-3	0	0	9:53	0:00	0:00	1-1	—	0	-0.09
Mar 24 @ NYI · W 4-3	1	1	8:11	0:00	0:00	1-3	0	0	-0.07
Mar 22 vs NSH · OTL 3-2	1	2	7:15	0:00	0:00	1-0	100	0	-0.17

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 · 242 min · percentile vs. NHL forwards

xGF%40.4%

5th percentile

Relative xGF%-4.1

22nd percentile

HDCF%33.3%

3rd percentile

CF%46.9%

28th percentile

Relative CF%+1.6

72nd percentile

FF%44.5%

11th percentile

GF%43.8%

28th percentile

CF/6041.8

2nd percentile

CA/6047.3

98th percentile

ixG/600.18

0th percentile

Goals above expected+0.3

62nd percentile

IPP28.6%

1st percentile

PDO99.4

46th percentile

OZS%65.4%

85th 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 depth center

Trait percentiles vs. NHL centers · 2025-26

Lafferty is a relentless defensive force who wins battles and limits chances against, though he contributes little offensively and struggles to move the puck or create opportunities. His value comes entirely from shutdown work on limited ice time.

Defensive specialistPhysical checkerLow-event player

Shooting volume: 0
Playmaking: 0
Zone entries(est.): 48
Forechecking: 81
Physicality: 71
Defensive impact: 99
Puck management: 9
Speed: 28

Where he shoots from

Slot 71% · Mid-range 14% · Perimeter 14%(14 unblocked shots)

Strengths

Elite defensive impact at 99th percentile protects his team effectively
Strong forechecking at 81st percentile disrupts opponent transitions
Physical play at 71st percentile enforces his presence in battles

Watch-outs

Shooting volume at 0th percentile shows almost no goal-scoring threat
Puck management at 9th percentile limits offensive execution
Speed at 28th percentile restricts his ability to generate rush chances

Similar style: Jesperi Kotkaniemi (CAR), Nick Cousins (OTT)

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 · 29 GP · goals above average

Season total -1.9 goals, or -0.07 per game.

Even strength offense: -1.0
Even strength defense: +0.5
Finishing: +0.3
Playmaking: -1.5
Penalties: -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

Season	Team	GP	G	A	P	+/-	SOG	TOI/GP	FO%	GS/GP
2025-26	CHI	29	1	1	2	-2	9	8:36	50.0%	-0.07
2024-25	BUF	60	4	3	7	-15	50	9:53	50.6%	-0.09
2023-24	VAN	79	13	11	24	+4	78	11:53	42.1%	-0.02
2022-23	CHI, TOR	70	12	15	27	-11	102	14:37	51.1%	-0.03

Sentiment & chatter

Fans

—

Beat writers

—

Media

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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 31, forwards typically produce 80% 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

2025-26, as of Oct 2

Top speed: 21.8 mph; 30th pct
20+ mph bursts: 26
Hardest shot: 71.6 mph; 6th pct
Distance: 41.9 mi
OZ time: 40.8%; 32nd pct
DZ time: 40.1%