Who to start · 2025-26
Aaron Ekblad vs Nikita Kucherov
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 3.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Aaron Ekblad's 1.36.
Ekblad had 26 points in 72 games; Kucherov had 130 in 77 games.
This week Ekblad has 1 game left; Kucherov has 1 left. We project Kucherov for 2.8 ESPN points to Ekblad's 1.1.
Nikita Kucherov has the better number in 27 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Ekblad's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 0, Hits 84, Blocked shots 103.
Kucherov's biggest edges: Hardest shot 92.1, Goals above expected +3.9, Plus/minus +43.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 0 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Aaron Ekblad
1.36
fantasy points per game
Nikita Kucherov
3.01
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nikita Kucherov has the edge.
| Points per game from | Ekblad | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.10 | 1.20 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.33 | 1.05 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.06 | 0.23 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.12 | 0.29 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.11 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.63 | 0.21 |
Per-game rates from the selected sample; blended mixes last season with this season, weighting this season more as games are played. Categories are scored as z-scores against qualified players at the same position. Your custom weights are saved in this browser only.
Head-to-head: Ekblad vs Kucherov
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Ekblad 3G 13A, 70 SOG · Kucherov 16G 29A, 104 SOG
Ekblad blocked 6 of Kucherov's shots; Kucherov blocked 2 of Ekblad's.
On the ice against each other (Ekblad's side)
16:52 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Ekblad's side
- Shot attempts
- 14–17
- 45.2%
- Expected goals
- 0.6–0.4
- 59.6%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Ekblad | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-27 | FLA 2–4 TBL | 0G 0A 0S | 2G 0A 3S |
| 2025-12-15 | FLA 5–2 TBL | 0G 2A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-11-15 | FLA 1–3 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 6S |
| 2025-04-28 · PO | FLA 4–2 TBL | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-04-26 · PO | FLA 1–5 TBL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 3A 1S |
| 2025-03-03 | FLA 2–1 TBL | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2024-12-23 | FLA 0–4 TBL | 0G 0A 5S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2024-12-22 | FLA 4–2 TBL | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-04-29 · PO | FLA 6–1 TBL | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-04-27 · PO | FLA 3–6 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 3A 1S |
| 2024-04-25 · PO | FLA 5–3 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2024-04-23 · PO | FLA 3–2 TBL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
Latest 12 of 33 meetings.
Every stat, side by side
Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.
Fantasy box score
Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)
Transition, turnovers & faceoffs
Usage
Special teams & discipline
This week's schedule
Sep 28 to Oct 4. More games usually wins a weekly start/sit. Chips show how many fantasy points the opponent allows to the player's position (soft or tough), the Schedule Edge from rest and travel, and the likely opposing goalie with his save percentage. Projections use ESPN default points for the games left.
Aaron Ekblad
3games (1 left)
1.1proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ CAROpp allows 10th-most FP to DLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ SJSOpp allows 13th-fewest FP to DSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ ANA1.1 ptsOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
Nikita Kucherov
2games (1 left)
2.8proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 12th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH2.8 ptsOpp allows 13th-most FP to RWSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Aaron Ekblad or Nikita Kucherov in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 3.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Aaron Ekblad's 1.36. Ekblad had 26 points in 72 games; Kucherov had 130 in 77 games. Check this week's games and your league's scoring in the fantasy panel above, since more games usually decide a weekly start.
- Who is better, Aaron Ekblad or Nikita Kucherov?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nikita Kucherov leads in 27 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Ekblad and Kucherov done against each other?
- In 33 games against each other in our data, Ekblad's team went 13–20. Ekblad had 16 points (3 goals) and Kucherov had 45 (16 goals).
2025-26 regular season from NHL play-by-play, shift charts and NHL EDGE, processed by Edgehalla. Head-to-head covers every loaded season (play-by-play from 2019-20; on-ice matchups from 2025-26).Compare other players →