PuckSleuthCap hit
$3.5M
3.4% of $104M cap
Term
1 yr
Through 2026-27, then UFA
Clause
None
Surplus value
—
arrives with the trade tools
Confirmed by the public signing announcement · source
2026-27 regular season
GP
1
Goals
0
Assists
1
0 primary
Points
1
1.00 per game
TOI/GP
16:04
PP 4:06 · PK 0:00
xGF%
55.9
5v5, +0.4 vs. last yr
Game Score
-0.13
per game, goals above average
Faceoff %
—
2 W · 11 L
Plus/minus
0
Blocks 1 · Hits 0
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 30 @ PHI · W 7-0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 16:04 | 4:06 | 0:00 | 2-11 | 100 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -0.13 |
| Apr 29 @ PHI · OTL 1-0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 17:22 | 0:28 | 0:00 | 6-5 | 67 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -0.25 |
| Apr 27 vs PHI · W 3-2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 14:04 | 2:13 | 0:00 | 3-8 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -0.28 |
| Apr 25 @ PHI · W 4-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 13:02 | 1:33 | 0:00 | 5-3 | 80 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -0.15 |
| Apr 22 @ PHI · L 5-2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 12:42 | 0:34 | 0:00 | 2-1 | 100 | 0 | 0 | -3 | -0.29 |
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 · 1,014 min · percentile vs. NHL forwards
88th percentile
95th percentile
83rd percentile
68th percentile
66th percentile
73rd percentile
69th percentile
75th percentile
42nd percentile
60th percentile
32nd percentile
35th percentile
64th percentile
86th 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 stylePlaymaking rush scorer
Trait percentiles vs. NHL centers · 2025-26
Novak excels at creating chances through smart passing and dynamic rush attacks, generating excellent offensive flow. However, he struggles in the trenches with minimal forechecking effort and physicality, making him a limited factor in grinding situations.
- Shooting volume
- 72
- Playmaking
- 81
- Zone entries(est.)
- 90
- Forechecking
- 3
- Physicality
- 4
- Defensive impact
- 52
- Puck management
- 72
- Speed
- 35
Where he shoots from
Slot 59% · Mid-range 36% · Perimeter 6%(200 unblocked shots)
Strengths
- Elite rush chance creation at 90th percentile drives offensive pace
- Playmaking excellence at 81st percentile fuels team scoring chances
- High shooting volume at 72nd percentile keeps goaltenders busy
Watch-outs
- Forechecking at 3rd percentile means minimal pressure below the goal line
- Physicality at 4th percentile limits board play and space creation
- Below-average speed at 35th percentile reduces separation ability
Similar style: Mikael Granlund (ANA), Mikael Backlund (CGY)
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 -0.6 goals, or -0.01 per game.
- Even strength offense
- +2.3
- Even strength defense
- -0.1
- Power play
- -1.1
- Finishing
- -1.7
- Playmaking
- +1.7
- Penalties
- -0.8
- Faceoffs
- -0.7
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 | PIT | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 16:04 | — | -0.13 |
| 2025-26 | PIT | 82 | 16 | 26 | 42 | +1 | 130 | 14:17 | 42.9% | -0.01 |
| 2024-25 | NSH, PIT | 54 | 13 | 9 | 22 | -7 | 92 | 13:14 | 42.7% | +0.06 |
| 2023-24 | NSH | 71 | 18 | 27 | 45 | -3 | 113 | 14:12 | 42.2% | +0.11 |
| 2022-23 | NSH | 51 | 17 | 26 | 43 | +5 | 93 | 14:39 | 44.5% | +0.19 |
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
How players at his position age, and where his contract falls on that curve, arrives with the trade tools.
Skating · NHL EDGE
2026-27, as of Oct 2
- Top speed
- 19.8 mph
- 19th pct
- 20+ mph bursts
- 0
- Hardest shot
- —
- Distance
- 2.6 mi
- OZ time
- 49.5%
- 93rd pct
- DZ time
- 33.4%