Nick Cousins Bio
Brian Nicholas Cousins, known professionally as Nick 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, Cousins was selected 68th overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Across his professional career, he has suited up for the Philadelphia Flyers, Arizona Coyotes, Montreal Canadiens, Vegas Golden Knights, Nashville Predators, and Florida Panthers before joining the Ottawa Senators. He is a Stanley Cup champion, having won the trophy with the Florida Panthers in 2024.
Early Life and Background
Nick Cousins was born on July 20, 1993, in Belleville, Ontario, a city located along the Bay of Quinte in southeastern Canada. Growing up in a region with deep roots in Canadian hockey culture, Cousins was introduced to the sport at a young age and developed his game through local minor hockey programs. Belleville’s proximity to several OHL markets and Junior A clubs gave him early access to competitive environments that helped shape his development as a forward.
As a teenager, Cousins progressed through the competitive tiers of youth hockey, eventually earning a spot with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League. His selection by the Greyhounds in 2009 launched his major junior career and positioned him on a clear path toward the NHL. Standing 5 feet 11 inches tall and competing at around 184 pounds, he developed into a hard-working, two-way centre known for his skating and physicality during his junior years.
Path to Professional Hockey
Cousins spent four seasons with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds from 2009 to 2013, steadily increasing his production each year. In his final OHL season, he posted 27 goals, 76 assists, and 103 points in 64 games, establishing himself as one of the league’s top offensive players. That same season, he led the OHL in scoring before being suspended for four games following an illegal check from behind during a February 2013 game against the London Knights. Over his full OHL career, Cousins recorded 102 goals and 189 assists for 291 points, along with 261 penalty minutes in 264 games played.
His junior performance caught the attention of NHL scouts, and in 2011, the Philadelphia Flyers selected him in the third round, 68th overall. On March 26, 2012, the Flyers signed Cousins to a three-year, entry-level contract, formalizing his entry into professional hockey. After the Greyhounds were eliminated from the 2013 OHL playoffs, Cousins joined the Flyers’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Adirondack Phantoms, on an amateur tryout, appearing in seven games and recording one assist.
Nick Cousins Career
Early Career (2013–2015)
Cousins began his first full professional season in 2013–14 with the Adirondack Phantoms, scoring 11 goals and 29 points across 74 games. The following season, after the Flyers relocated their AHL affiliate, Cousins was assigned to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and scored the first-ever goal in the new franchise’s history. His strong play earned him a call-up to Philadelphia during the 2014–15 campaign. On March 17, 2015, Cousins made his NHL debut in a 4–1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks, appearing in 11 games with the Flyers that season while registering 22 goals and 56 points in 64 games for Lehigh Valley.
Philadelphia Flyers Breakthrough (2015–2017)
The 2015–16 season marked Cousins’ first extended NHL opportunity. He split the year between Lehigh Valley and Philadelphia, and in January 2016, he was named to the 2016 AHL All-Star Classic alongside goaltender Anthony Stolarz. Recalled by the Flyers in February, Cousins slotted into the lineup beside Brayden Schenn and Sam Gagner. He earned his first NHL point on February 7, 2016, assisting on a goal by Michael Del Zotto in a 3–2 loss to the Washington Capitals. Four days later, on February 11, Cousins scored his first NHL goal against goaltender Robin Lehner in a 5–1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres, finishing the year with six goals and 11 points in 36 NHL games.
He also made his Stanley Cup playoff debut that spring, appearing in all six games of the Flyers’ first-round series against the Capitals, though he went scoreless as Philadelphia was eliminated. During the 2016–17 season, Cousins played the full year in the NHL, recording six goals and 16 points in 60 games, solidifying his role as a bottom-six forward with the organization.
Arizona Coyotes Era (2017–2019)
On June 16, 2017, Cousins’ tenure with the Flyers organization ended when he was traded, alongside goaltender Merrick Madsen, to the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for forward Brendan Warren and a fifth-round pick. He signed a two-year contract with the Coyotes on July 1 and made his Arizona debut on October 7 against the expansion Vegas Golden Knights. He scored his first goal for the Coyotes on October 24 against Jaroslav Halák in a 5–3 loss to the New York Islanders. In his first season in the desert, Cousins played 71 games and posted 12 goals and 19 points, establishing himself in a bottom-six, two-way role.
The 2018–19 season represented a career-best offensive year for Cousins in Arizona, as he recorded 27 points, including seven goals and 20 assists, in 81 games. On June 25, 2019, the Coyotes did not tender him a qualifying offer, making him an unrestricted free agent.
Montreal Canadiens and Vegas Golden Knights (2019–2021)
On July 5, 2019, Cousins signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Montreal Canadiens. He debuted on October 17 and quickly contributed, earning his first point that same night with an assist on Victor Mete’s first-period goal in a 4–0 shutout of the Minnesota Wild. He scored his first goal as a Canadien on October 24 against Aaron Dell in a 4–2 loss to the San Jose Sharks. Cousins skated in 58 games for Montreal, recording nine goals and 13 assists.
On February 24, 2020, the Canadiens traded Cousins to the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for a 2021 fourth-round pick. In his Golden Knights debut on February 26, he scored against Mikko Koskinen, becoming the sixth Vegas player that season to score in his first game with the club. When the NHL returned from its COVID-19 pause for the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs, Cousins played 17 games and registered five assists as the Golden Knights advanced to the Western Conference Final, where they were eliminated by the Dallas Stars.
Nashville Predators Era (2021–2022)
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 on January 27 against Kevin Lankinen in a 2–1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. He finished the 2020–21 season with five goals and 18 points in 52 games. In the 2021 playoffs against Carolina, Cousins scored his first career NHL playoff goal on May 23, 2021, against Alex Nedeljkovic in a double-overtime 4–3 win, though the Predators were eliminated in six games.
During the 2021–22 season, Cousins appeared in 68 games, scoring nine goals and 22 points, despite missing time with undisclosed and lower-body injuries. He played three games in the 2022 playoffs as Nashville was swept by the Colorado Avalanche in the first round.
Florida Panthers Era (2022–2024)
On July 13, 2022, Cousins signed a two-year, $2.2 million contract with the Florida Panthers. He debuted on October 13 in a season-opening 3–1 win over the New York Islanders and scored his first Panthers goal, a game-winner, on November 9 against Antti Raanta in a 3–0 shutout of the Carolina Hurricanes. He finished the regular season with nine goals and 27 points in 81 games. During the 2023 playoffs, Cousins played every game of Florida’s run, posting two goals and seven points in 21 games. His overtime winner in Game 5 against the Toronto Maple Leafs on May 12 sent Florida to its first Conference Final since 1996. The Panthers ultimately fell to the Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Final.
The following season, Cousins appeared in 69 regular-season games, scoring seven goals and 15 points. He was involved in several controversial on-ice incidents, including a concussion he sustained on January 3, 2024, after a hit from behind by Arizona’s Jason Zucker, which caused him to miss 12 games. In the 2024 playoffs, Cousins appeared in 12 games and registered one assist as the Panthers defeated the Edmonton Oilers in seven games to win the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history.
Ottawa Senators Era (2024–Present)
Following his Stanley Cup win, 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 teammates 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’s Jacob Quillan that kept him out of the lineup for an extended period. He returned on April 13 in a 4–3 overtime loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, finishing the regular season with six goals and 15 points in 50 games. The Senators returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2017 and faced the Maple Leafs in the opening round, though they were eliminated in six games. Cousins signed a one-year, $825,000 deal on July 1, 2025, to return to Ottawa for the 2025–26 season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Cousins is widely regarded as a hardworking, two-way centre whose game is built on speed, physicality, and energy. Throughout his career, he has thrived in bottom-six roles, providing timely offense, strong penalty killing, and an aggressive forechecking presence. His willingness to engage physically has occasionally drawn league discipline, but it has also made him a valuable agitator and complementary piece on contending rosters.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Cousins’ most defining career moments are his Stanley Cup victory with the Florida Panthers in 2024 and his overtime goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2023 playoffs that propelled Florida to its first Conference Final in over two decades. He also scored the first-ever goal in Lehigh Valley Phantoms history and recorded his first NHL goal on February 11, 2016, against the Buffalo Sabres.
Nick Cousins Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Publicly available information about Nick Cousins’ parents and immediate family remains limited. Details of his upbringing in Belleville, Ontario, suggest a supportive family environment that encouraged his pursuit of competitive hockey from a young age.
Personal Life
While playing junior hockey with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, Cousins was one of three players charged with sexual assault in August 2012. However, the charges were withdrawn in April 2013 by the Crown Attorney’s Office after a review of the evidence found no reasonable prospect of conviction. Beyond this incident, Cousins has largely kept his personal and family life out of the public eye.
2025 Season Performance
The 2024–25 season represented a new chapter for Cousins with the Ottawa Senators, his seventh NHL organization. After opening the year with a goal on October 27 against the Colorado Avalanche, he settled into a bottom-six role and contributed six goals and 15 points in 50 games. A significant knee injury in late January forced him out of the lineup for roughly 30 games before his return on April 13, 2025.
His return coincided with the Senators’ first playoff appearance since 2017, a milestone for both the franchise and Cousins. However, Ottawa’s postseason run was short-lived, as the team was eliminated in six games by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round. Cousins appeared in five playoff games and finished scoreless in the series.
Looking ahead, Cousins’ re-signing on July 1, 2025, signals continued organizational confidence in his role. As Ottawa builds around a young core that includes Brady Tkachuk and Shane Pinto, Cousins is expected to provide veteran depth, penalty killing, and energy in 2025–26, with the Senators aiming to establish themselves as a consistent playoff contender in the Atlantic Division.