Justin Kirkland
Minnesota Wild Center
A twenty-nine-year-old with fifty career games, hanging onto the edge of a lineup.
| Season | GP | G | A | PTS | +/- | PIM | PP | SH | GW | S | S% | TOI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 2 | +1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 9.1 | 9:49 |
| Career | 50 | 3 | 7 | 10 | +4 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 26 | 11.5 | 9:18 |
Last Season
One goal and one assist in 20 games on under ten minutes a night. Fifty career games, ten career points.
The Finesse Game
There is very little NHL evidence, and what exists is a player producing nothing. Eleven shots in twenty games describes someone playing a containing role and not looking for the puck.
He has scored in the American league, which is what earns a player these looks and is not the same as scoring here.
The Physical Game
Six-three and 183, which is tall and light. He forechecks willingly and is not going to overpower NHL defencemen.
The Intangibles
A third-round pick a decade ago, a long minor-league career, and a handful of NHL games spread across several seasons. That is a hard road and he is still on it.
The honest read is that he is organisational depth who covers injuries. There is no projection here beyond that, and the sample does not support one.