PuckSleuth
44Columbus Blue Jackets · Defense · Shoots R
Erik Gudbranson
Age 34 · 6'5" · 222 lb · Born in Ottawa, CAN
Cap hit
$1.75M
1.7% of $104M cap
Term
1 yr
Through 2026-27, then UFA
Clause
None
Surplus value
+$2.042M
vs. $3.792M market estimate
Confirmed by the public signing announcement · source
2026-27 regular season
GP
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
0 primary
Points
0
0.00 per game
TOI/GP
17:44
PP 0:03 · PK 5:01
xGF%
38.3
5v5, -4.3 vs. last yr
Game Score
+0.08
per game
Faceoff %
—
Plus/minus
-1
Blocks 3 · Hits 0
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1 vs BUF · W 6-3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 17:44 | 0:03 | 5:01 | — | 0 | 1 | 0 | -1 | +0.08 |
| Apr 14 vs WSH · L 2-1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 18:41 | 0:00 | 3:59 | — | — | 1 | 0 | +1 | +0.20 |
| Apr 12 vs BOS · L 3-2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 14:49 | 0:00 | 0:00 | — | 0 | 2 | 0 | -1 | -0.23 |
| Apr 11 @ MTL · W 5-2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 19:06 | 0:00 | 4:24 | — | 25 | 0 | 0 | +2 | +0.22 |
| Apr 9 @ BUF · L 5-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 15:46 | 0:00 | 2:20 | — | 50 | 2 | 0 | -2 | -0.21 |
GS = our Game Score (credit for everything he did; goals and assists count most). 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 · 529 min · percentile vs. NHL defensemen
7th percentile
0th percentile
47th percentile
2nd percentile
0th percentile
2nd percentile
52nd percentile
8th percentile
3rd percentile
14th percentile
46th percentile
6th percentile
84th percentile
6th 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 depth defenseman
Trait percentiles vs. NHL defensemen · 2025-26
Gudbranson is a physical, blue-collar defender who plays a straightforward game centered on finishing checks and staying in position. He struggles to generate offense or create chances, leaving limited upside beyond his role as a reliable penalty-killer and physical presence.
- Shooting volume
- 30
- Playmaking
- 24
- Zone entries(est.)
- 67
- Forechecking
- 52
- Physicality
- 83
- Defensive impact
- 1
- Puck management
- 44
- Speed
- 64
Where he shoots from
Slot 0% · Mid-range 19% · Perimeter 81%(52 unblocked shots)
Strengths
- Physicality at 83rd percentile delivers consistent hitting and body work
- Rush chances at 67th percentile shows decent transition mobility
- Speed at 64th percentile enables solid skating for his depth role
Watch-outs
- Defensive impact at 1st percentile, his weakest trait, suggests limited defensive effectiveness
- Playmaking at 24th percentile leaves him unable to generate offensive chances
- Shooting volume at 30th percentile means he rarely threatens from the point
Similar style: Will Borgen (BOS), Brandon Carlo (STL)
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 · 37 GP
Season total +5.9, or +0.16 per game.
- Scoring
- +2.4
- Shooting
- +2.5
- Defense
- -0.3
- Penalty kill
- -1.0
- Physical play
- +4.1
- Puck battles
- -1.3
- Penalties
- -0.6
Game Score gives credit for everything a player does in a game. Goals (1.0) and assists (0.7 primary, 0.5 secondary) count most; shots, blocks, hits, takeaways, penalties drawn, faceoff wins, killing penalties, and holding down the other team's chances add to it. Only mistakes subtract: goals against at 5-on-5, giveaways, penalties taken, faceoff losses, and allowing more chances than an average player would. A player who is there to defend or kill penalties is not marked down for not scoring. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.
Career stats
From the NHL's player records
| Season | League | Team | GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006-07 | OHL Cup | Gloucester Rangers U16 AA | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | — | 4 |
| 2006-07 (playoffs) | OHL Cup | Gloucester Rangers Min Midget AA | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 2007-08 | Minor-ON | Ott. Jr. 67's | 70 | 15 | 40 | 55 | — | 118 |
| 2008-09 | OHL | Kingston | 63 | 3 | 19 | 22 | -16 | 69 |
| 2008-09 | WJ18-A | Canada | 6 | 1 | 3 | 4 | — | 0 |
| 2009-10 | OHL | Kingston | 41 | 2 | 21 | 23 | +11 | 68 |
| 2009-10 | WJ18-A | Canada | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | 4 |
| 2009-10 (playoffs) | OHL | Kingston | 7 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
| 2010-11 | OHL | Kingston | 44 | 12 | 22 | 34 | -1 | 105 |
| 2010-11 | WJC-A | Canada | 7 | 3 | 2 | 5 | +8 | 4 |
| 2010-11 (playoffs) | OHL | Kingston | 5 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -3 | 10 |
| 2011-12 | NHL | Florida Panthers | 72 | 2 | 6 | 8 | -19 | 78 |
| 2011-12 (playoffs) | NHL | Florida Panthers | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2 | 8 |
| 2012-13 | NHL | Florida Panthers | 32 | 0 | 4 | 4 | -22 | 47 |
| 2012-13 | AHL | San Antonio | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +2 | 2 |
| 2013-14 | NHL | Florida Panthers | 65 | 3 | 6 | 9 | -7 | 114 |
| 2013-14 | WC-A | Canada | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | +6 | 6 |
| 2014-15 | NHL | Florida Panthers | 76 | 4 | 9 | 13 | -4 | 58 |
| 2015-16 | NHL | Florida Panthers | 64 | 2 | 7 | 9 | +3 | 49 |
| 2015-16 (playoffs) | NHL | Florida Panthers | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2 | 2 |
| 2016-17 | NHL | Vancouver Canucks | 30 | 1 | 5 | 6 | -14 | 18 |
| 2017-18 | NHL | Vancouver Canucks | 52 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -7 | 35 |
| 2018-19 | NHL | Vancouver Canucks | 57 | 2 | 6 | 8 | -27 | 83 |
| 2018-19 | NHL | Pittsburgh Penguins | 19 | 0 | 2 | 2 | +7 | 4 |
| 2018-19 (playoffs) | NHL | Pittsburgh Penguins | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 2019-20 | NHL | Pittsburgh Penguins | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 2019-20 | NHL | Anaheim Ducks | 44 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 91 |
| 2020-21 | NHL | Ottawa Senators | 36 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -13 | 47 |
| 2020-21 | NHL | Nashville Predators | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | +1 | 12 |
| 2020-21 (playoffs) | NHL | Nashville Predators | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 |
| 2021-22 | NHL | Calgary Flames | 78 | 6 | 11 | 17 | +15 | 68 |
| 2021-22 (playoffs) | NHL | Calgary Flames | 12 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| 2022-23 | NHL | Columbus Blue Jackets | 70 | 1 | 12 | 13 | -24 | 57 |
| 2023-24 | NHL | Columbus Blue Jackets | 78 | 6 | 20 | 26 | -14 | 74 |
| 2024-25 | NHL | Columbus Blue Jackets | 16 | 0 | 4 | 4 | +1 | 6 |
| 2025-26 | NHL | Columbus Blue Jackets | 37 | 1 | 2 | 3 | +6 | 19 |
| 2026-27 | NHL | Columbus Blue Jackets | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2 | 0 |
Every league he has played in, from the NHL's records, regular season and playoffs.
Usage
Last game: vs BUF, Oct 1
Pair 3 with Jake Christiansen (5:16 together at 5-on-5)
From the NHL's shift chart.
Latest news
Headlines from news outlets and team blogs
- Blue Jackets 2026-27 season preview, Erik Gudbranson brings stability to the penalty kill
unionandblue.com · Sep 9
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 +0.01 per game over these 10.
Skating · NHL EDGE
2025-26, as of Oct 2
- Top speed
- 22.4 mph
- 79th pct
- 20+ mph bursts
- 17
- Hardest shot
- 98.6 mph
- 92nd pct
- Distance
- 89.6 mi
- OZ time
- 36.7%
- 0th pct
- DZ time
- 45.7%
Age curve
NHL defensemen · production index
At 34, defensemen typically produce 71% 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
| Season | Team | Cap hit | % of cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | CBJ | $1.75M | 1.7% |
UFA after 2026-27. $1.75M 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).