Nick Perbix


Nicklaus Perbix is an American professional ice hockey player who is a defenseman for the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League. He was a member of United States national team at the 2022 Winter Olympics.

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. After being selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the [2017 National Hockey League|NHL Entry Draft|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, Perbix was selected as a member of the United States team. On March 31, 2022, the Tampa Bay Lightning signed Perbix to a one-year, entry-level contract commencing in the season. He was immediately assigned to join AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, on an amateur tryout contract for the remainder of the season.
In the season, 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. 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. On November 5, 2022, Perbix scored his first career NHL goal in a 5–3 Lightning win over the Buffalo Sabres. Establishing his role on Lightning's blueline, on January 2, 2023, the Tampa Bay signed Perbix to a two-year extension that would keep him on the team through the 2024–25 season.
At the conclusion of his third season within the Lightning organization, Perbix left as a free agent and was signed to a two-year, $5.5 million contract with the Nashville Predators on July 1, 2025.