Not on an NHL roster · Center · Shoots L

Ben Jones

Age 27 · 6'0" · 187 lb · Born in Waterloo, CAN

Cap hit

$850K

0.8% of $104M cap

Term

1 yr

Through 2026-27, then UFA

Clause

None

Surplus value

+$693K

vs. $1.543M market estimate

Contract details from our records; public announcement not yet matched

2025-26 regular season

Goals

3.8% shooting

Assists

0 primary

Points

0.11 per game

TOI/GP

8:50

PP 0:04 · PK 0:16

Plus/minus

-10

Hits

Blocks 11

PIM

Game Score

+0.17

per game

Game log

Last 5 games · NHL API

Game	A	SOG	HIT	BLK	TOI	PP	PK	FO	OZS%	GV	+/-	GS
Apr 14 vs ANA · W 3-2	1	0	2	0	13:23	0:00	1:55	1-4	0	1	+1	+0.53
Apr 13 @ STL · L 6-3	0	1	3	0	10:06	0:00	0:26	4-3	—	0	-1	+0.05
Jan 20 @ MTL · L 4-3	0	0	0	3	7:19	0:00	1:10	2-1	0	0	-1	+0.04
Jan 19 @ TOR · W 6-3	0	3	1	0	8:00	0:00	0:33	—	0	0	-1	+0.04
Jan 17 @ BUF · W 5-4	1	0	0	0	8:54	0:00	1:45	—	0	0	-1	+0.29

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 · 233 min · percentile vs. NHL forwards

xGF%43.7%

13th percentile

Relative xGF%-7.2

11th percentile

HDCF%48.4%

45th percentile

CF%39.2%

1st percentile

Relative CF%-8.3

3rd percentile

FF%39.7%

1st percentile

GF%23.5%

1st percentile

CF/6049.0

13th percentile

CA/6076.0

1st percentile

ixG/600.60

12th percentile

Goals above expected-1.3

39th percentile

IPP75.0%

82nd percentile

PDO94.8

5th percentile

OZS%17.3%

1st percentile

Faceoff %52.5%

73 won · 66 lost (all strengths)

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 physical forward

Trait percentiles vs. NHL centers · 2025-26

Jones is a forceful presence who throws his weight around and hounds opponents relentlessly, but he struggles to generate scoring chances and rarely creates plays for teammates. His limited offensive touches and poor zone entry ability make him a pure depth role player.

AgitatorDefensive grinderHeavy hitter

Shooting volume: 47
Playmaking: 0
Zone entries(est.): 22
Forechecking: 91
Physicality: 93
Defensive impact: 33
Puck management: 42
Speed: 29

Where he shoots from

Slot 39% · Mid-range 42% · Perimeter 19%(36 unblocked shots)

Strengths

91st percentile forechecking, constantly pressuring the puck
93rd percentile physicality brings intensity to fourth-line work
Decent shot placement from slot area at 39%

Watch-outs

Playmaking at 0th percentile, almost no creation for linemates
Zone entries in 22nd percentile limit offensive opportunities
Speed in 29th percentile slows his transitions and forecheck timing

Similar style: Liam O'Brien (UTA), Zemgus Girgensons (TBL)

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.

Career stats

From the NHL's player records

NHL regular season NHL playoffs All leagues

No NHL playoff games yet.

Seasons traded mid-year show one row per team.

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

+0.0

+0.0WSH12/16

+0.0

+0.0CBJ12/18

+1.6

+1.6NYI1/10

+0.3

+0.3NJD1/12

-0.2WPG1/15

+0.3

+0.3BUF1/17

+0.0

+0.0TOR1/19

+0.0

+0.0MTL1/20

+0.0

+0.0STL4/13

+0.5

+0.5ANA4/14

Average +0.28 per game over these 10.

Where his Game Score comes from

+0.17 per game

2025-26 · 28 GP

Season total +4.7, or +0.17 per game.

Scoring: +2.0
Shooting: +1.9
5-on-5 goals: -1.4
Defense: -0.2
Penalty kill: +0.1
Physical play: +1.7
Puck battles: -0.4
Penalties: +0.8
Faceoffs: +0.1

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.

Skating · NHL EDGE

2025-26, as of Oct 2

Top speed: 21.9 mph; 32nd pct
20+ mph bursts: 25
Hardest shot: 80.7 mph; 23rd pct
Distance: 38.4 mi
OZ time: 37.3%; 3rd pct
DZ time: 45.0%

Age curve

At 27: 96% of peak

NHL forwards · production index

202937

At 27, forwards typically produce 96% 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	CGY	$850K	0.8%

UFA after 2026-27. $850K 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).