Anaheim Ducks · Center · Shoots L

Nikita Nesterenko

Age 25 · 6'2" · 206 lb · Born in Brooklyn, USA

Cap hit

$787K

0.8% of $104M cap

Term

1 yr

Through 2026-27, then RFA

Clause

None

Surplus value

+$2.159M

vs. $2.946M market estimate

Contract details from our records; public announcement not yet matched

2026-27 regular season

Goals

Assists

0 primary

Points

0.00 per game

TOI/GP

11:49

PP 0:00 · PK 0:00

xGF%

59.5

5v5, +4.4 vs. last yr

Game Score

+0.08

per game

Faceoff %

—

Plus/minus

Blocks 0 · Hits 3

Game log

Last 5 games · NHL API

Game	SOG	HIT	BLK	TOI	PP	PK	FO	OZS%	GV	+/-	GS
Oct 2 @ VGK · W 4-3	0	3	0	11:49	0:00	0:00	—	50	0	0	+0.08
Jan 13 vs DAL · W 3-1	1	2	2	11:27	0:00	0:21	1-0	50	0	+1	+0.30
Jan 10 @ BUF · L 5-3	1	1	0	10:47	0:00	0:14	1-0	60	0	-1	-0.06
Jan 5 @ WSH · L 7-4	3	2	0	12:25	0:00	0:00	—	43	0	-3	-0.09
Jan 2 vs MIN · L 5-2	0	3	0	14:47	0:00	0:10	—	50	1	0	+0.02

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 · 320 min · percentile vs. NHL forwards

xGF%55.1%

87th percentile

Relative xGF%+4.6

87th percentile

HDCF%61.4%

95th percentile

CF%49.0%

47th percentile

Relative CF%-4.4

15th percentile

FF%51.0%

66th percentile

GF%45.5%

34th percentile

CF/6057.7

61st percentile

CA/6060.0

31st percentile

ixG/600.65

18th percentile

Goals above expected-2.5

25th percentile

IPP80.0%

91st percentile

PDO99.4

46th percentile

OZS%41.1%

20th 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 playmaker

Trait percentiles vs. NHL centers · 2025-26

Nesterenko is a pass-first center who excels at shutting down opponents and creating chances through rushes and forechecking. He rarely shoots and struggles with puck retention, limiting his ability to finish plays he initiates.

Defensive-mindedPlaymakingTwo-way

Shooting volume: 34
Playmaking: 88
Zone entries(est.): 71
Forechecking: 74
Physicality: 74
Defensive impact: 94
Puck management: 32
Speed: 65

Where he shoots from

Slot 45% · Mid-range 21% · Perimeter 34%(47 unblocked shots)

Strengths

Defensive excellence at 94th percentile keeps opponents off-balance and limits scoring chances
Playmaking at 88th percentile lets him set up teammates despite low shooting volume
Forechecking and physicality both at 74th percentile drive possession in all three zones

Watch-outs

Puck management at 32nd percentile means turnovers interrupt offensive rhythm
Shooting volume at 34th percentile leaves goals on the table despite offensive chances

Similar style: Casey Cizikas (NYI), Gage Goncalves (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.

Where his Game Score comes from

2025-26 · 29 GP

Season total +9.6, or +0.33 per game.

Scoring: +6.2
Shooting: +2.3
5-on-5 goals: -0.3
Defense: +0.4
Physical play: +1.5
Puck battles: -0.7
Penalties: +0.2
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.

Career stats

From the NHL's player records

NHL regular season NHL playoffs All leagues

Season	Team	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	GWG	SOG	S%	TOI	FO%	GS/GP
2022-23	Anaheim Ducks	9	1	0	1	-3	0	0	23	4.3	13:17	—	+0.28
2023-24	Anaheim Ducks	3	1	0	1	0	0	0	7	14.3	11:31	—	+0.55
2024-25	Anaheim Ducks	20	4	2	6	-4	2	0	20	20.0	10:19	—	+0.38
2025-26	Anaheim Ducks	29	1	8	9	-2	8	1	31	3.2	12:15	39.3	+0.33
2026-27	Anaheim Ducks	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	11:49	—	+0.08
Career	5 seasons	62	7	10	17	-9	10	1	81	8.6	11:44	—

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

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

+0.0VAN11/26

+0.1

+0.1LAK11/28

-0.2CHI11/30

+1.0

+1.0SJS12/29

+0.2

+0.2TBL12/31

+0.0

+0.0MIN1/2

-0.1WSH1/5

-0.1BUF1/10

+0.3

+0.3DAL1/13

+0.1

+0.1VGK10/2

Average +0.14 per game over these 10.

Skating · NHL EDGE

2025-26, as of Oct 2

Top speed: 22.5 mph; 62nd pct
20+ mph bursts: 49
Hardest shot: 84.6 mph; 48th pct
Distance: 58.4 mi
OZ time: 39.9%; 19th pct
DZ time: 40.9%

Usage

Last game: @ VGK, Oct 2

Line 4 with Frank Vatrano and Ryan Poehling (7:49 together at 5-on-5)

From the NHL's shift chart.

Age curve

NHL forwards · production index

202937

At 25, forwards typically produce 100% 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	ANA	$787K	0.8%

RFA after 2026-27. $787K 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).