Not on an NHL roster · Defense · Shoots R

Hunter Brzustewicz

Age 21 · 6'0" · 190 lb · Born in Washington, USA

Cap hit

$950K

0.9% of $104M cap

Term

1 yr

Through 2026-27, then RFA

Clause

None

Surplus value

—

needs 40 recent games

Contract details from our records; public announcement not yet matched

2025-26 regular season

Goals

6.1% shooting

Assists

0 primary

Points

0.21 per game

TOI/GP

16:08

PP 1:00 · PK 0:11

xGF%

47.9

5v5, -28 vs. last yr

Game Score

-0.03

per game, goals above average

Faceoff %

—

Plus/minus

Blocks 23 · Hits 24

Game log

Last 5 games · NHL API

Game	G	SOG	HIT	BLK	TOI	PP	PK	FO	OZS%	GV	TK	+/-	GS
Apr 16 vs LAK · W 3-1	0	1	0	1	19:53	2:01	0:09	—	13	0	0	0	-0.12
Apr 14 vs COL · L 3-1	0	0	2	0	22:34	1:30	1:15	—	40	0	0	0	-0.14
Apr 12 vs UTA · W 4-1	0	0	0	6	20:07	2:54	1:33	—	100	2	1	+1	-0.04
Apr 11 @ SEA · L 4-1	1	3	1	0	17:05	0:33	0:47	—	50	0	0	-1	+0.67
Apr 9 @ COL · L 3-1	0	1	4	0	19:27	0:50	0:00	—	50	1	0	0	-0.16

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 · 498 min · percentile vs. NHL defensemen

xGF%47.9%

38th percentile

Relative xGF%+7.8

96th percentile

HDCF%48.4%

46th percentile

CF%49.0%

49th percentile

Relative CF%+3.1

83rd percentile

FF%47.6%

32nd percentile

GF%52.5%

67th percentile

CF/6053.1

29th percentile

CA/6055.2

66th percentile

ixG/600.13

19th percentile

Goals above expected+0.9

67th percentile

IPP28.6%

25th percentile

PDO101.1

68th percentile

OZS%48.2%

56th 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 styleShutdown defenseman

Trait percentiles vs. NHL defensemen · 2025-26

Brzustewicz is a stay-at-home defender whose elite positioning and gap control create a fortress on the back end. He rarely generates offense and lacks the speed and aggression to lead transitions, limiting his overall impact despite his strong defensive instincts.

Defensive anchorPositional playerLow-event defender

Shooting volume: 39
Playmaking: 0
Zone entries(est.): 48
Forechecking: 23
Physicality: 21
Defensive impact: 98
Puck management: 49
Speed: 16

Where he shoots from

Slot 0% · Mid-range 28% · Perimeter 72%(47 unblocked shots)

Strengths

Defensive impact in the 98th percentile shows exceptional positioning and gap control
Even strength defense holds opponents to 47.9% expected goals, well below average
Stays disciplined and poised under pressure with minimal penalty risk

Watch-outs

Speed ranks in the 16th percentile, limiting his range and transition effectiveness
Playmaking in the bottom tier means he rarely initiates offensive chances
Forechecking at 23rd percentile indicates limited ability to pressure the puck in deeper areas

Similar style: Marcus Pettersson (NYR), Nick DeSimone (UTA)

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 · 34 GP · goals above average

Season total -1.1 goals, or -0.03 per game.

Even strength offense: -0.5
Even strength defense: +0.2
Power play: -0.2
Penalty kill: +0.1
Finishing: +0.9
Playmaking: -1.8
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	CGY	34	2	5	7	0	33	16:08	—	-0.03
2024-25	CGY	1	0	0	0	+2	2	18:23	—	-0.07

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

202937

At 21, defensemen typically produce 97% 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: 20.7 mph; 19th pct
20+ mph bursts: 7
Hardest shot: 83.9 mph; 19th pct
Distance: 79.6 mi
OZ time: 43.5%; 78th pct
DZ time: 37.7%