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Who to start · 2025-26

Alexander Nikishin vs Will Cuylle

Alexander NikishinAlexander NikishinHurricanes · DefencevsWill CuylleWill CuylleRangers · Left wing

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Will Cuylle projects to 1.63 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Alexander Nikishin's 1.50.

Nikishin had 33 points in 81 games; Cuylle had 38 in 82 games.

This week Nikishin has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Cuylle has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Nikishin for 1.7 ESPN points to Cuylle's 1.4.

Alexander Nikishin has the better number in 22 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.

Nikishin's biggest edges: Plus/minus +18, Goals above expected +2.7, Fenwick 56.9%.

Cuylle's biggest edges: Blocked shots 68, Penalty minutes 65, Ice-time share 27.8%.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 8 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Alexander Nikishin

1.50

fantasy points per game

Will Cuylle

1.73

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Will Cuylle has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromNikishinCuylle
Goals (+2)0.270.49
Assists (+1)0.270.22
Power-play points (+0.5)0.060.05
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.010.00
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.150.19
Hits (+0.1)0.160.37
Blocks (+0.5)0.580.41

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: Nikishin vs Cuylle

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.

NikishinCuylle
3Team record in 4 meetings1
1Points in those games1

Nikishin 0G 1A, 4 SOG · Cuylle 1G 0A, 9 SOG

0Hits on each other2
1Shots blocked by the other2

Nikishin blocked 1 of Cuylle's shots; Cuylle blocked 2 of Nikishin's.

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

17:28 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Nikishin's side

Shot attempts
22–20
52.4%
Expected goals
0.7–0.6
55.8%
Goals
0–0

Games against each other

Games between Alexander Nikishin and Will Cuylle
DateScoreNikishinCuylle
2026-02-05CAR 2–0 NYR0G 0A 2S0G 0A 4S
2025-12-29CAR 3–2 NYR0G 1A 0S0G 0A 2S
2025-11-26CAR 2–4 NYR0G 0A 2S1G 0A 3S
2025-11-04CAR 3–0 NYR0G 0A 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.

NikishinCuylle

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.

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 −12.8 win%Likely vs Dan Vladar (.906)

Will Cuylle

4games (1 left)

1.4proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 @ BOS
    Opp allows 12th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
  • Thu, Oct 1 vs TBL
    Opp allows 6th-most FP to LWLikely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
  • Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2B
    Opp allows 13th-most FP to LWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs John Gibson (.901)
  • Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA1.4 pts
    Opp allows 3rd-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Alexander Nikishin or Will Cuylle in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Will Cuylle projects to 1.63 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Alexander Nikishin's 1.50. Nikishin had 33 points in 81 games; Cuylle had 38 in 82 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, Alexander Nikishin or Will Cuylle?
On 2025-26 numbers, Alexander Nikishin leads in 22 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
How have Nikishin and Cuylle done against each other?
In 4 games against each other in our data, Nikishin's team went 3–1. Nikishin had 1 points (0 goals) and Cuylle 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 →