Nick Cousins Bio
Brian Nicholas Cousins is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who plays for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on July 20, 1993, in Belleville, Ontario, he was selected in the third round, 68th overall, by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2011 NHL entry draft. Over a career that began in 2012, Cousins has suited up for the Philadelphia Flyers, Arizona Coyotes, Montreal Canadiens, Vegas Golden Knights, Nashville Predators, and Florida Panthers before joining Ottawa. He reached the summit of the sport in 2024, winning the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers.
Early Life and Background
Brian Nicholas Cousins was born on July 20, 1993, in Belleville, Ontario, Canada. Growing up in a region with deep ties to Canadian hockey, he took to the ice at a young age and developed through local minor hockey programs. Standing 5 feet 11 inches tall and playing at about 185 pounds, Cousins built the frame and skill set of a versatile forward during his formative years.
His progression through youth hockey eventually led him to the major junior ranks, where he would spend four seasons refining his game. The experience of competing in one of Canada’s premier development leagues gave him the foundation needed to attract the attention of NHL scouts.
Path to Hockey
Cousins played four seasons (2009–2013) of major junior hockey with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). During his time with the Greyhounds, he improved each season, recording 27 goals, 76 assists, and 103 points in 64 games in his final year. He was leading the OHL in scoring when he was suspended for four games following an illegal check from behind in a February 2013 game against the London Knights.
Across his full OHL career, Cousins tallied 102 goals and 189 assists for 291 points, along with 261 penalty minutes in 264 games. That production, combined with his two-way play, helped cement his status as a legitimate NHL prospect heading into his draft year.
Nick Cousins Career
Early Career (2013–2015)
After his OHL playoff exit in 2013, Cousins joined the Philadelphia Flyers’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Adirondack Phantoms, for seven games on an amateur tryout contract, registering one assist. He was assigned to Adirondack in September 2013 and spent the entire 2013–14 season with the Phantoms, scoring 11 goals and 29 points in 74 games.
In 2014, Cousins was assigned to Philadelphia’s new AHL affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, where he scored in the team’s first-ever game. He received his first NHL call-up during the 2014–15 season and made his NHL debut on March 17, 2015, in a 4–1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks. He appeared in 11 games for the Flyers that year, going scoreless, while adding 22 goals and 56 points in 64 games with Lehigh Valley.
Philadelphia Flyers Breakthrough (2015–2017)
Cousins split the 2015–16 season between the Phantoms and Flyers. In January 2016, he was named to the 2016 AHL All-Star Classic as Lehigh Valley’s representative alongside goaltender Anthony Stolarz. Recalled by Philadelphia in February to replace an injured Sean Couturier, Cousins slotted between Brayden Schenn and Sam Gagner. He registered his first NHL point on February 7, 2016, assisting on Michael Del Zotto’s goal in a 3–2 loss to the Washington Capitals, and scored his first NHL goal on February 11 against Robin Lehner in a 5–1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres.
That season, Cousins appeared in 36 games for the Flyers, recording 6 goals and 11 points, and made his playoff debut in the 2016 Stanley Cup playoffs versus the Capitals, playing all six games without a point. In 2016–17, he played the full season with the Flyers, scoring 6 goals and 16 points in 60 games, before his time with the organization ended in June 2017.
Arizona Coyotes Era (2017–2019)
On June 16, 2017, Cousins was traded alongside goaltender Merrick Madsen to the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for forward Brendan Warren and a 2018 fifth-round pick. He signed a two-year contract with Arizona on July 1 and made his Coyotes debut on October 7, 2017, against the expansion Vegas Golden Knights. Cousins scored his first Arizona goal on October 24 against Jaroslav Halák in a 5–3 loss to the New York Islanders and finished his first Coyotes season with 12 goals and 19 points in 71 games.
Establishing a bottom-six, agitating two-way role, Cousins recorded a career-high 27 points (7 goals, 20 assists) in 81 games during 2018–19. On June 25, 2019, the Coyotes did not tender him a qualifying offer, releasing him as an unrestricted free agent.
Montreal Canadiens and Vegas Golden Knights (2019–2020)
On July 5, 2019, Cousins signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Montreal Canadiens. He made his Canadiens debut on October 17, 2019, earning his first point by assisting on Victor Mete’s goal in a 4–0 win over the Minnesota Wild, and scored his first Montreal goal against Aaron Dell in a 4–2 loss to the San Jose Sharks on October 24. He skated in 58 games for Montreal, recording 9 goals and 13 assists.
On February 24, 2020, Montreal traded Cousins to the Vegas Golden Knights for a 2021 fourth-round pick. In his Vegas debut on February 26, he scored against Mikko Koskinen, becoming the sixth Golden Knight that season to score in his first game with the team. During the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs, he appeared in 17 games with five assists as Vegas reached the Western Conference Final before being eliminated by the Dallas Stars.
Nashville Predators Era (2020–2022)
On October 9, 2020, Cousins signed a two-year, $3 million contract with the Nashville Predators. He made his Predators debut on January 14, 2021, in a 3–1 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets and scored his first Nashville goal against Kevin Lankinen in a 2–1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on January 27. He finished the pandemic-shortened 2020–21 season with 5 goals and 18 points in 52 games.
In the 2021 playoffs against Carolina, Cousins scored his first career NHL playoff goal on Alex Nedeljkovic in a double-overtime win on May 23, tying the series at two games apiece. In 2021–22, he appeared in 68 games with 9 goals and 22 points, then played three scoreless games in the Predators’ first-round playoff loss to the Colorado Avalanche.
Florida Panthers Era (2022–2024)
On July 13, 2022, Cousins signed a two-year, $2.2 million contract with the Florida Panthers. He made his Panthers debut on October 13, 2022, and scored his first Florida goal, a game-winner against Antti Raanta, in a 3–0 shutout of the Carolina Hurricanes on November 9. He finished with 9 goals and 27 points in 81 games. In the 2023 playoffs, Cousins scored the series-winning overtime goal in Game 5 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, sending Florida to its first Conference Final since 1996. The Panthers later fell to the Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Final.
In 2023–24, Cousins drew attention for a series of questionable hits, including plays against Erik Gudbranson and Juuso Välimäki that led to suspensions for opposing players who retaliated. He suffered a concussion from Jason Zucker’s hit in January 2024 and missed 12 games, finishing with 7 goals and 15 points in 69 games. The Panthers returned to the 2024 Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers, and Cousins appeared in 12 playoff games with one assist as Florida won the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history.
Ottawa Senators Era (2024–Present)
After winning the Stanley Cup, Cousins signed a one-year, $800,000 contract with the Ottawa Senators on August 29, 2024. He made his Senators debut on October 10 against his former Panthers team and scored his first Ottawa goal on October 27 in a 5–4 loss to the Colorado Avalanche. On January 25, 2025, he suffered a knee-on-knee hit from Toronto Maple Leafs rookie Jacob Quillan and missed approximately six to eight weeks after surgery. Cousins returned on April 13 against the Philadelphia Flyers and finished with 6 goals and 15 points in 50 games as Ottawa returned to the playoffs.
Driving Style and Strengths
Cousins is recognized as a competitive, two-way centre whose value extends beyond scoring. Coaches have deployed him in bottom-six roles where his forechecking, faceoff work, and willingness to engage physically have made him a reliable complementary piece on contending rosters.
Notable Events and Milestones
Cousins’ career high came in 2024 when he won the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers, the franchise’s first championship. His overtime winner against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2023 playoffs stands among his most dramatic postseason moments, and his first NHL goal against the Buffalo Sabres in 2016 marked his arrival at the top level.
Nick Cousins Career Wins
Cousins’ most celebrated victory came in 2024 when he helped the Florida Panthers defeat the Edmonton Oilers in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, securing the first championship in franchise history. He also contributed to deep playoff runs with the Vegas Golden Knights (2020 Western Conference Final) and Nashville Predators, while posting several game-winning goals across his stops with Arizona, Montreal, Nashville, and Florida.
NHL Highlights
Over his NHL career, Cousins has produced multiple 20-plus point seasons, with his career-high 27 points coming during the 2018–19 season with the Arizona Coyotes. He has appeared in more than 500 regular-season NHL games and has chipped in important playoff moments, including his overtime series-winner against Toronto in 2023 and his first career playoff goal against Carolina in 2021.
Other Wins and Performances
At the junior level, Cousins helped drive the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds to consistent contention in the OHL, finishing his tenure among the league’s top performers. He was also named to the 2016 AHL All-Star Classic during his time with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
Nick Cousins Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Cousins grew up in Belleville, Ontario, in a hockey-driven region of Canada. Detailed information about his parents and siblings has not been publicly confirmed.
Personal Life
In August 2012, while with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, Cousins was one of three players charged with sexual assault. The charges were withdrawn in April 2013 by the Crown Attorney’s Office, which found no reasonable prospect of conviction after reviewing the evidence.
2025 Season Performance
Cousins returned to the Ottawa Senators for the 2025–26 season after signing a one-year, $825,000 deal on July 1, 2025. In 81 games with Ottawa, he recorded 9 goals and 23 points, providing veteran depth in a bottom-six role.
The Senators returned to the playoffs but were eliminated in the first round after being swept by the Carolina Hurricanes. Cousins added one assist across the four postseason games, continuing his reputation as a dependable playoff contributor.
