PuckSleuthNot on an NHL roster · Center · Shoots L
Ben Jones
Age 27 · 6'0" · 187 lb · Born in Waterloo, CAN
Cap hit
$850K
0.8% of $104M cap
Term
1 yr
Through 2026-27, then UFA
Clause
None
Surplus value
+$403K
vs. $1.253M market estimate
Contract details from our records; public announcement not yet matched
2025-26 regular season
GP
28
Goals
1
3.8% shooting
Assists
2
0 primary
Points
3
0.11 per game
TOI/GP
8:50
PP 0:04 · PK 0:16
xGF%
43.7
5v5, +1.8 vs. last yr
Game Score
-0.08
per game, goals above average
Faceoff %
52.5
73 W · 66 L
Plus/minus
-10
Blocks 11 · Hits 58
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 14 vs ANA · W 3-2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 13:23 | 0:00 | 1:55 | 1-4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | -0.03 |
| Apr 13 @ STL · L 6-3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 10:06 | 0:00 | 0:26 | 4-3 | — | 0 | 0 | -1 | -0.04 |
| Jan 20 @ MTL · L 4-3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7:19 | 0:00 | 1:10 | 2-1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | -0.04 |
| Jan 19 @ TOR · W 6-3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 8:00 | 0:00 | 0:33 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | -0.27 |
| Jan 17 @ BUF · W 5-4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8:54 | 0:00 | 1:45 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | -0.08 |
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 · 233 min · percentile vs. NHL forwards
13th percentile
11th percentile
45th percentile
1st percentile
3rd percentile
1st percentile
1st percentile
13th percentile
1st percentile
12th percentile
39th percentile
82nd percentile
5th percentile
1st 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 physical forward
Trait percentiles vs. NHL centers · 2025-26
Jones is a forceful presence who throws his weight around and hounds opponents relentlessly, but he struggles to generate scoring chances and rarely creates plays for teammates. His limited offensive touches and poor zone entry ability make him a pure depth role player.
- Shooting volume
- 47
- Playmaking
- 0
- Zone entries(est.)
- 22
- Forechecking
- 91
- Physicality
- 93
- Defensive impact
- 33
- Puck management
- 42
- Speed
- 29
Where he shoots from
Slot 39% · Mid-range 42% · Perimeter 19%(36 unblocked shots)
Strengths
- 91st percentile forechecking, constantly pressuring the puck
- 93rd percentile physicality brings intensity to fourth-line work
- Decent shot placement from slot area at 39%
Watch-outs
- Playmaking at 0th percentile, almost no creation for linemates
- Zone entries in 22nd percentile limit offensive opportunities
- Speed in 29th percentile slows his transitions and forecheck timing
Similar style: Liam O'Brien (UTA), Zemgus Girgensons (TBL)
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 · 28 GP · goals above average
Season total -2.3 goals, or -0.08 per game.
- Even strength offense
- -0.3
- Even strength defense
- -0.1
- Power play
- +0.1
- Penalty kill
- +0.1
- Finishing
- -1.3
- Playmaking
- -1.4
- Penalties
- +0.8
- 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 | MIN | 28 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -10 | 26 | 8:50 | 52.5% | -0.08 |
| 2024-25 | MIN | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -3 | 24 | 8:23 | — | -0.12 |
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
At 27, forwards typically produce 96% 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
- 21.9 mph
- 32nd pct
- 20+ mph bursts
- 25
- Hardest shot
- 80.7 mph
- 23rd pct
- Distance
- 38.4 mi
- OZ time
- 37.3%
- 3rd pct
- DZ time
- 45.0%