Not on an NHL roster · Left wing · Shoots R

Brian Halonen

Age 27 · 6'0" · 215 lb · Born in Delano, USA

Cap hit

$875K

0.8% of $104M cap

Term

2 yrs

Through 2027-28, then UFA

Clause

None

Surplus value

—

needs 40 recent games

Contract details from our records; public announcement not yet matched

2025-26 regular season

Goals

14.3% shooting

Assists

0 primary

Points

0.13 per game

TOI/GP

7:37

PP 0:00 · PK 0:00

xGF%

35.5

5v5, -5.3 vs. last yr

Game Score

-0.07

per game, goals above average

Faceoff %

—

0 W · 1 L

Plus/minus

-1

Blocks 2 · Hits 28

Game log

Last 5 games · NHL API

Game	A	SOG	HIT	TOI	PP	PK	FO	OZS%	GV	TK	+/-	GS
Apr 12 vs OTT · W 4-3	0	0	2	8:11	0:00	0:00	0-1	0	1	0	0	-0.09
Apr 11 @ DET · W 5-3	0	2	2	8:04	0:00	0:00	—	0	0	0	-1	-0.17
Apr 9 vs PIT · L 5-2	1	0	3	8:54	0:01	0:00	—	33	1	0	+1	-0.07
Apr 7 vs PHI · L 5-1	0	0	2	10:16	0:02	0:00	—	50	1	0	0	-0.24
Apr 5 @ MTL · W 3-0	0	1	0	5:19	0:00	0:00	—	—	0	1	0	-0.23

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 · 113 min · percentile vs. NHL forwards

xGF%35.5%

2nd percentile

Relative xGF%-16.0

1st percentile

HDCF%33.3%

3rd percentile

CF%41.7%

4th percentile

Relative CF%-9.6

1st percentile

FF%45.2%

15th percentile

GF%42.9%

24th percentile

CF/6039.9

1st percentile

CA/6055.9

65th percentile

ixG/600.36

1st percentile

Goals above expected+0.3

62nd percentile

IPP66.7%

55th percentile

PDO99.5

48th percentile

OZS%61.8%

78th 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 agitator

Trait percentiles vs. NHL wingers · 2025-26

Halonen is a tireless two-way forward who disrupts opponents with relentless forechecking and physicality while keeping plays clean. He gets in fast but needs to create more scoring chances once he has the puck.

Relentless forecheckerPhysical defenderLow-volume shooter

Shooting volume: 21
Playmaking: 0
Zone entries(est.): 84
Forechecking: 86
Physicality: 88
Defensive impact: 90
Puck management: 88
Speed: 60

Where he shoots from

Slot 27% · Mid-range 60% · Perimeter 13%(15 unblocked shots)

Strengths

Dominant defensive impact in the 90th percentile drives his value
Exceptional physicality and forechecking both at 86-88th percentiles create turnovers
Elite puck management at 88th percentile limits giveaways

Watch-outs

Playmaking at 0th percentile means he rarely generates scoring chances
Shooting volume at 21st percentile limits his goal-scoring potential
Rush chances rank 84th, leaving room to improve entry speed

Similar style: Brandon Duhaime (TOR), Cole Smith (CHI)

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 · 15 GP · goals above average

Season total -1.1 goals, or -0.07 per game.

Even strength offense: -0.5
Even strength defense: +0.1
Finishing: +0.3
Playmaking: -0.7
Penalties: -0.4

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	NJD	15	1	1	2	-1	7	7:37	—	-0.07
2024-25	NJD	2	0	0	0	-1	2	13:54	—	-0.27
2023-24	NJD	2	0	0	0	0	2	8:17	—	-0.16

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 27, forwards typically produce 96% of their peak (age 24). His contract runs through age 28, when the typical level is 93%.

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: 22.5 mph; 64th pct
20+ mph bursts: 20
Hardest shot: 89.9 mph; 83rd pct
Distance: 19.8 mi
OZ time: 39.1%; 13th pct
DZ time: 43.2%