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Who to start · 2025-26

Adrian Kempe vs Alexander Nikishin

Adrian KempeAdrian KempeKings · Right wingvsAlexander NikishinAlexander NikishinHurricanes · Defence

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Adrian Kempe projects to 2.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Alexander Nikishin's 1.50.

Kempe had 73 points in 81 games; Nikishin had 33 in 81 games.

This week Kempe has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Nikishin has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Nikishin for 1.7 ESPN points to Kempe's 1.6.

Adrian Kempe has the better number in 19 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.

Kempe's biggest edges: Ice time per game 19:18, Ice-time share 31.5%, Transition attempts /60 1.93.

Nikishin's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.42, High-danger chances 53.8%, Net penalties drawn /60 −0.20.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Adrian Kempe

2.11

fantasy points per game

Alexander Nikishin

1.50

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Adrian Kempe has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromKempeNikishin
Goals (+2)0.890.27
Assists (+1)0.460.27
Power-play points (+0.5)0.070.06
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.010.01
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.280.15
Hits (+0.1)0.160.16
Blocks (+0.5)0.240.58

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: Kempe vs Nikishin

Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2025-26 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.

KempeNikishin
0Team record in 2 meetings2
3Points in those games1

Kempe 0G 3A, 2 SOG · Nikishin 1G 0A, 2 SOG

1Hits on each other0

On the ice against each other (Kempe's side)

5:32 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Kempe's side

Shot attempts
4–2
66.7%
Expected goals
0.1–0.0
53.7%
Goals
0–0

Games against each other

Games between Adrian Kempe and Alexander Nikishin
DateScoreKempeNikishin
2026-02-01LAK 2–3 CAR0G 1A 2S1G 0A 2S
2025-10-18LAK 3–4 CAR0G 2A 0S0G 0A 0S

Every stat, side by side

Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.

KempeNikishin

Fantasy box score

Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

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.

Adrian Kempe

2games (1 left)

1.6proj. ESPN pts

  • Wed, Sep 30 @ COL
    Opp allows 10th-most FP to RWLikely vs Mackenzie Blackwood (.903)
  • Sat, Oct 3 @ SJS1.6 pts
    Opp allows 7th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge −3.2 win%Likely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)

Alexander Nikishin

3games (1 left)

1.7proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 vs FLA
    Opp allows 15th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Jacob Markstrom (.883)
  • Fri, Oct 2 vs WSH
    Opp allows 5th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Logan Thompson (.912)
  • Sat, Oct 3 @ PHIB2B1.7 pts
    Opp allows 2nd-most FP to DSchedule edge −8.7 win%vs Joseph Woll (.899)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Adrian Kempe or Alexander Nikishin in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Adrian Kempe projects to 2.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Alexander Nikishin's 1.50. Kempe had 73 points in 81 games; Nikishin had 33 in 81 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, Adrian Kempe or Alexander Nikishin?
On 2025-26 numbers, Adrian Kempe leads in 19 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
How have Kempe and Nikishin done against each other?
In 2 games against each other in our data, Kempe's team went 0–2. Kempe had 3 points (0 goals) and Nikishin had 1 (1 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 →