PuckSleuthNot on an NHL roster · Defense · Shoots L
Jacob Bryson
Age 28 · 5'9" · 177 lb · Born in London, CAN
Cap hit
$850K
0.8% of $104M cap
Term
1 yr
Through 2026-27, then UFA
Clause
None
Surplus value
+$2.36M
vs. $3.21M market estimate
Contract details from our records; public announcement not yet matched
2025-26 regular season
GP
50
Goals
2
9.1% shooting
Assists
6
4 primary
Points
8
0.16 per game
TOI/GP
10:52
PP 0:00 · PK 0:16
xGF%
50.7
5v5, +6.2 vs. last yr
Game Score
+0.02
per game, goals above average
Faceoff %
—
Plus/minus
-9
Blocks 29 · Hits 14
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 14 @ UTA · L 5-3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 17:04 | 0:00 | 4:17 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | -0.17 |
| Apr 13 @ VGK · L 6-2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 13:21 | 0:00 | 2:54 | — | 100 | 0 | 0 | -1 | -0.12 |
| Apr 11 vs PHI · L 7-1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14:25 | 0:00 | 0:00 | — | 100 | 0 | 0 | -2 | -0.05 |
| Apr 9 @ STL · W 3-2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 11:14 | 0:00 | 0:00 | — | 50 | 0 | 0 | +2 | +0.49 |
| Apr 6 vs SEA · W 6-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 15:28 | 0:00 | 0:00 | — | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0.03 |
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 · 519 min · percentile vs. NHL defensemen
61st percentile
71st percentile
51st percentile
30th percentile
40th percentile
20th percentile
14th percentile
26th percentile
45th percentile
12th percentile
67th percentile
65th percentile
23rd percentile
22nd 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 puck mover
Trait percentiles vs. NHL defensemen · 2025-26
Bryson is a stay-at-home defenseman who excels at managing the puck cleanly and shutting down opponents in his zone. He contributes offensively through careful passing but rarely generates chances from aggressive plays.
- Shooting volume
- 10
- Playmaking
- 69
- Zone entries(est.)
- 12
- Forechecking
- 23
- Physicality
- 15
- Defensive impact
- 87
- Puck management
- 93
- Speed
- 59
Where he shoots from
Slot 14% · Mid-range 11% · Perimeter 74%(35 unblocked shots)
Strengths
- 93rd percentile puck management keeps plays simple and effective
- 87th percentile defensive impact shuts down opponents consistently
- 69th percentile playmaking creates outlet passes and controlled exits
Watch-outs
- 10th percentile shooting volume shows he avoids offensive chances
- 23rd percentile forechecking limits pressure in opponent's zone
- 12th percentile rush chances indicate limited high-tempo attacking opportunities
Similar style: Trevor van Riemsdyk (PIT), Ryker Evans (SEA)
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 · 50 GP · goals above average
Season total +1.0 goals, or +0.02 per game.
- Even strength offense
- -0.4
- Even strength defense
- +0.5
- Finishing
- +0.9
- Playmaking
- +0.2
- 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 | BUF, WPG | 50 | 2 | 6 | 8 | -9 | 22 | 10:52 | — | +0.02 |
| 2024-25 | BUF | 48 | 0 | 7 | 7 | -9 | 20 | 14:24 | — | -0.04 |
| 2023-24 | BUF | 36 | 1 | 7 | 8 | +5 | 15 | 14:41 | — | +0.01 |
| 2022-23 | BUF | 59 | 1 | 8 | 9 | -24 | 27 | 14:35 | — | -0.04 |
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 28, defensemen typically produce 95% 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
- 22.1 mph
- 67th pct
- 20+ mph bursts
- 25
- Hardest shot
- 86.3 mph
- 29th pct
- Distance
- 79.5 mi
- OZ time
- 40.8%
- 35th pct
- DZ time
- 40.8%