PuckSleuth
18Cap hit
$3.5M
3.4% of $104M cap
Term
1 yr
Through 2026-27, then a 3-year extension at $4.65M
Clause
None
Surplus value
+$1.748M
vs. $5.248M market estimate
Confirmed by the public signing announcement · source
2026-27 regular season
GP
1
Goals
0
Assists
1
0 primary
Points
1
1.00 per game
TOI/GP
16:04
PP 4:06 · PK 0:00
xGF%
55.9
5v5, +0.4 vs. last yr
Game Score
+0.49
per game
Faceoff %
—
2 W · 11 L
Plus/minus
0
Blocks 1 · Hits 0
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 30 @ PHI · W 7-0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 16:04 | 4:06 | 0:00 | 2-11 | 100 | 1 | 0 | 0 | +0.49 |
| Apr 29 @ PHI · OTL 1-0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 17:22 | 0:28 | 0:00 | 6-5 | 67 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0.20 |
| Apr 27 vs PHI · W 3-2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 14:04 | 2:13 | 0:00 | 3-8 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0.10 |
| Apr 25 @ PHI · W 4-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 13:02 | 1:33 | 0:00 | 5-3 | 80 | 1 | 0 | 0 | +0.09 |
| Apr 22 @ PHI · L 5-2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 12:42 | 0:34 | 0:00 | 2-1 | 100 | 0 | 0 | -3 | +0.27 |
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 · 1,014 min · percentile vs. NHL forwards
88th percentile
95th percentile
83rd percentile
68th percentile
66th percentile
73rd percentile
69th percentile
75th percentile
42nd percentile
60th percentile
32nd percentile
35th percentile
64th percentile
86th 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 stylePlaymaking rush scorer
Trait percentiles vs. NHL centers · 2025-26
Novak excels at creating chances through smart passing and dynamic rush attacks, generating excellent offensive flow. However, he struggles in the trenches with minimal forechecking effort and physicality, making him a limited factor in grinding situations.
- Shooting volume
- 72
- Playmaking
- 81
- Zone entries(est.)
- 90
- Forechecking
- 3
- Physicality
- 4
- Defensive impact
- 52
- Puck management
- 72
- Speed
- 35
Where he shoots from
Slot 59% · Mid-range 36% · Perimeter 6%(200 unblocked shots)
Strengths
- Elite rush chance creation at 90th percentile drives offensive pace
- Playmaking excellence at 81st percentile fuels team scoring chances
- High shooting volume at 72nd percentile keeps goaltenders busy
Watch-outs
- Forechecking at 3rd percentile means minimal pressure below the goal line
- Physicality at 4th percentile limits board play and space creation
- Below-average speed at 35th percentile reduces separation ability
Similar style: Mikael Granlund (ANA), Mikael Backlund (CGY)
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 · 82 GP
Season total +42.2, or +0.51 per game.
- Scoring
- +32.4
- Shooting
- +9.8
- 5-on-5 goals
- +1.1
- Defense
- -0.2
- Physical play
- +1.9
- Puck battles
- -1.3
- Penalties
- -0.8
- Faceoffs
- -0.7
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 | Team | GP | G | A | P | +/- | PIM | PPG | PPP | SHG | GWG | SOG | S% | TOI | FO% | GS/GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | Nashville Predators | 27 | 1 | 6 | 7 | -4 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 4.0 | 11:48 | 44.0 | — |
| 2022-23 | Nashville Predators | 51 | 17 | 26 | 43 | +5 | 8 | 5 | 12 | 0 | 3 | 93 | 18.3 | 14:39 | 44.5 | +0.83 |
| 2023-24 | Nashville Predators | 71 | 18 | 27 | 45 | -3 | 8 | 6 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 113 | 15.9 | 14:12 | 42.2 | +0.68 |
| 2024-25 | Nashville Predators | 52 | 13 | 9 | 22 | -5 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 88 | 14.8 | 13:14 | 43.0 | +0.47 |
| 2024-25 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0.0 | 13:01 | 33.3 | +0.47 |
| 2025-26 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 82 | 16 | 26 | 42 | +1 | 24 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 130 | 12.3 | 14:17 | 42.9 | +0.51 |
| 2026-27 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | +2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 66.7 | 15:23 | 15.8 | +0.49 |
| Career | 6 seasons | 287 | 67 | 96 | 163 | -6 | 46 | 18 | 42 | 0 | 9 | 456 | 14.7 | 13:54 | — |
Seasons traded mid-year show one row per team. GS/GP is our Game Score per game.
Usage
Last game: @ PHI, Sep 30
Line 2 with Evgeni Malkin and Egor Chinakhov (9:32 together at 5-on-5) · PP1
From the NHL's shift chart.
Latest news
Headlines from news outlets and team blogs
- Novak scores 2 goals, including OT winner, to help the Penguins beat the Canadiens 6-5
Stamford Advocate · Oct 4
- Tommy Novak scores twice as Penguins down Canadiens in OT
Reuters · Oct 4
- MTL@PIT: Novak scores goal
Yahoo Sports · Oct 4
- Novak has OT winner, Penguins recover to defeat Canadiens
NHL.com · Oct 4
- Tommy Novak scores game winner in OT, Pens over Habs 6-5
Audacy · Oct 4
- Novak scores 2 goals, including OT winner, to help Penguins beat Canadiens
The Tribune-Democrat · Oct 4
- Novak scores OT winner, Penguins beat Canadiens 6-5
WKBN.com · Oct 3
- Game Day: Novak (09.30.26)
NHL.com · Sep 30
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 +0.23 per game over these 10.
Skating · NHL EDGE
2026-27, as of Oct 2
- Top speed
- 19.8 mph
- 19th pct
- 20+ mph bursts
- 0
- Hardest shot
- —
- Distance
- 2.6 mi
- OZ time
- 49.5%
- 93rd pct
- DZ time
- 33.4%
Age curve
NHL forwards · production index
At 29, forwards typically produce 89% 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
4 seasons left
| Season | Team | Cap hit | % of cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | PIT | $3.5M | 3.4% |
| 2027-28New deal | PIT | $4.65M | 4.1% |
| 2028-29 | PIT | $4.65M | — |
| 2029-30 | PIT | $4.65M | — |
UFA after 2029-30. $17.45M 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).