PuckSleuth
13Cap 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
GP
1
Goals
0
Assists
0
0 primary
Points
0
0.00 per game
TOI/GP
11:49
PP 0:00 · PK 0:00
Plus/minus
0
Hits
3
Blocks 0
PIM
0
Game Score
+0.08
per game
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2 @ VGK · W 4-3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 11:49 | 0:00 | 0:00 | — | 50 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +0.08 |
| Jan 13 vs DAL · W 3-1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 11:27 | 0:00 | 0:21 | 1-0 | 50 | 0 | 0 | +1 | +0.30 |
| Jan 10 @ BUF · L 5-3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 10:47 | 0:00 | 0:14 | 1-0 | 60 | 0 | 0 | -1 | -0.06 |
| Jan 5 @ WSH · L 7-4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 12:25 | 0:00 | 0:00 | — | 43 | 0 | 0 | -3 | -0.09 |
| Jan 2 vs MIN · L 5-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 14:47 | 0:00 | 0:10 | — | 50 | 1 | 0 | 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
87th percentile
87th percentile
95th percentile
47th percentile
15th percentile
66th percentile
34th percentile
61st percentile
31st percentile
18th percentile
25th percentile
91st percentile
46th percentile
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.
- 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.
Career stats
From the NHL's player records
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
Average +0.14 per game over these 10.
Where his Game Score comes from
+0.33 per game
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.
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
At 25: 100% of peak
NHL forwards · production index
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).