Nick Perbix

Nick Perbix
Nick Perbix
	Perbix in 2022
Born	June 15, 1998 (age 26); Elk River, Minnesota, U.S.
Height	6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight	202 lb (92 kg; 14 st 6 lb)
Position	Defense
Shoots	Right
NHL team	Tampa Bay Lightning
National team	United States
NHL draft	169th overall, 2017; Tampa Bay Lightning
Playing career	2022–present

Nicklaus Perbix (born June 15, 1998) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman for the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was a member of United States national team at the 2022 Winter Olympics.^[1]

Playing career

Perbix was a star player for Elk River High School, scoring well over a point per game as a senior and being a finalist for the Mr. Hockey Award.^[2] After being selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL Draft, he played a season of junior hockey for the Omaha Lancers before he began attending St. Cloud State University. He made an immediate splash in the college ranks, helping the Huskies finish atop the NCHC standings, and was named to the conference All-Rookie team. After his sophomore season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Perbix came back the following year in good form and was instrumental in getting St. Cloud to the program's first NCAA championship appearance.

Perbix continued to increase his scoring output for his senior season and was firing at a point per game pace for most of the year. After the NHL announced that they would not be sending any players to the Winter Olympics due to the COVID-19 pandemic,^[3] Perbix was selected as a member of the United States team.^[4] On March 31, 2022, the Tampa Bay Lightning signed Perbix to a one-year, entry-level contract commencing in the 2022–23 season. He was immediately assigned to join AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, on an amateur tryout contract for the remainder of the season.^[5]

On October 18, 2022, Perbix made his NHL debut with the Tampa Bay Lightning in a loss to the visiting Philadelphia Flyers at Amalie Arena.^[6]^[7] On October 26, 2022, Perbix recorded his first career NHL assist and point in a 4–2 victory over the Anaheim Ducks at the Honda Center.^[8]^[9]

On November 5, 2022, Perbix scored his first career NHL goal in a 5–3 Lightning win over the Buffalo Sabres.^[10]

On January 2, 2023, the Lightning signed Perbix to a two-year extension that would keep him on the team through the 2024–25 season.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

			Regular season					Playoffs
Season	Team	League	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2017–18	Omaha Lancers	USHL	56	4	25	29	38	4	0	2	2	14
2018–19	St. Cloud State	NCHC	39	5	15	20	16	—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	St. Cloud State	NCHC	34	4	11	15	25	—	—	—	—	—
2020–21	St. Cloud State	NCHC	31	7	16	23	16	—	—	—	—	—
2021–22	St. Cloud State	NCHC	31	6	25	31	14	—	—	—	—	—
2021–22	Syracuse Crunch	AHL	12	2	6	8	2	5	0	1	1	0
2022–23	Syracuse Crunch	AHL	2	0	0	0	0	—	—	—	—	—
2022–23	Tampa Bay Lightning	NHL	69	5	15	20	22	6	0	3	3	0
2023–24	Tampa Bay Lightning	NHL	77	2	22	24	10	2	0	0	0	2
NHL totals			146	7	37	44	32	8	0	3	3	2