PuckSleuth
Nic Dowd26

Vegas Golden Knights · Center · Shoots R

Nic Dowd

Age 36 · 6'2" · 195 lb · Born in Huntsville, USA

Cap hit

$3M

2.9% of $104M cap

Term

1 yr

Through 2026-27, then UFA

Clause

None

Surplus value

+$798K

vs. $3.798M market estimate

Confirmed by the public signing announcement · source

2026-27 regular season

GP

2

Goals

0

0.0% shooting

Assists

1

1 primary

Points

1

0.50 per game

TOI/GP

10:31

PP 0:01 · PK 1:27

xGF%

33.5

5v5, -12.7 vs. last yr

Game Score

+0.10

per game, goals above average

Faceoff %

—

9 W · 12 L

Plus/minus

-1

Blocks 0 · Hits 4

Game log

Last 5 games · NHL API

GameGASOGHITBLKTOIPPPKFOOZS%GVTK+/-GS
Oct 2
vs ANA · L 4-3
001208:240:001:391-55000-1-0.15
Sep 29
vs CHI · W 5-2
0102012:370:011:158-750100+0.36
Jun 14
vs CAR · L 3-0
0002111:290:001:142-40100+0.01
Jun 11
@ CAR · L 4-2
0025015:050:003:515-70000-0.20
Jun 9
vs CAR · L 5-3
0003010:330:000:514-43310+1-0.34

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 · 883 min · percentile vs. NHL forwards

xGF%46.2%

26th percentile

Relative xGF%-8.0

9th percentile

HDCF%37.9%

7th percentile

CF%49.2%

50th percentile

Relative CF%-3.8

20th percentile

FF%49.6%

53rd percentile

GF%42.9%

24th percentile

CF/6054.5

42nd percentile

CA/6056.3

62nd percentile

ixG/600.52

7th percentile

Goals above expected-2.7

23rd percentile

IPP76.2%

86th percentile

PDO98.5

34th percentile

OZS%24.9%

3rd 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 depth center

Trait percentiles vs. NHL centers · 2025-26

Dowd wins pucks with relentless forechecking and physicality while generating chances through rush attacks, but offers little offensive creation or shooting threat. He's a reliable defensive presence who limits scoring chances against more than he generates for.

GrinderRush attackerDefensive anchor
Shooting volume
6
Playmaking
11
Zone entries(est.)
79
Forechecking
76
Physicality
75
Defensive impact
73
Puck management
73
Speed
33

Where he shoots from

Slot 56% · Mid-range 28% · Perimeter 16%(106 unblocked shots)

Strengths

  • Excellent rush chances creation at 79th percentile shows transition speed efficiency
  • Strong forechecking and physicality (76th and 75th) drive possession advantages
  • Solid defensive impact at 73rd percentile limits opponent chances

Watch-outs

  • Shooting volume at just 6th percentile means minimal scoring punch
  • Playmaking ranks 11th, constraining offensive setup ability for linemates
  • Speed at 33rd percentile limits his individual pace relative to peers

Similar style: Barclay Goodrow (SJS), Jack Finley

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 · 75 GP · goals above average

Season total -11.0 goals, or -0.15 per game.

Even strength offense
-1.6
Even strength defense
+0.6
Power play
-0.1
Penalty kill
-1.0
Finishing
-2.7
Playmaking
-4.4
Penalties
-1.7
Faceoffs
-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.

Career stats

From the NHL's player records

SeasonTeamGPGAP+/-PIMPPGPPPSHGGWGSOGS%TOIFO%GS/GP
2015-16Los Angeles Kings5000+12000030.010:3552.9—
2016-17Los Angeles Kings7061622-15251802787.712:2747.8—
2017-18Los Angeles Kings16011-3120000110.07:5751.9—
2017-18Vancouver Canucks40303-7161101407.511:3450.9—
2018-19Washington Capitals6481422+102000034717.010:1851.9—
2019-20Washington Capitals567815+112800315213.510:5049.7—
2020-21Washington Capitals5611415+43100036816.214:2256.3—
2021-22Washington Capitals64101424+104401109011.114:1653.7—
2022-23Washington Capitals65131225+62600036221.013:2150.8+0.08
2023-24Washington Capitals64121022-24700026119.715:1248.1-0.04
2024-25Washington Capitals82141327+75600238616.315:1149.9-0.03
2025-26Washington Capitals5541216-6530000488.315:3348.7-0.15
2025-26Vegas Golden Knights20145+2200010185.611:4651.0-0.15
2026-27Vegas Golden Knights2011-10000010.010:3142.9+0.10
Career12 seasons65989109198+1738021071866513.413:12—

Seasons traded mid-year show one row per team. GS/GP is our Game Score per game.

Usage

Last game: vs ANA, Oct 2

Line 4 with Marc Gatcomb and Braeden Bowman (4:24 together at 5-on-5)

From the NHL's shift chart.

Latest news

Headlines from news outlets and team blogs

No news about him in the last 30 days.

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.

Recent Game Scores

Last 10 games · goals above average

Average -0.10 per game over these 10.

Skating · NHL EDGE

2026-27, as of Oct 2

Top speed
20.4 mph
41st pct
20+ mph bursts
1
Hardest shot
—
Distance
2.1 mi
OZ time
34.9%
7th pct
DZ time
48.0%

Age curve

NHL forwards · production index

202937

At 36, forwards typically produce 49% 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.

Contract by season

1 season left

SeasonTeamCap hit% of cap
2026-27VGK$3M2.9%

UFA after 2026-27. $3M in cap hits left. % of cap uses each season's ceiling where the league has set one ($104M this season, $113.5M in 2027-28).