Who to start · 2025-26
Alexis Lafrenière 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 Alexis Lafrenière's 1.41.
Lafrenière had 57 points in 82 games; Kucherov had 130 in 77 games.
This week Lafrenière has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Kucherov has 1 left. We project Kucherov for 2.5 ESPN points to Lafrenière's 1.2.
Nikita Kucherov has the better number in 27 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Lafrenière's biggest edges: Hits 84, Faceoffs won 9, Blocked shots 42.
Kucherov's biggest edges: Plus/minus +43, Hardest shot 92.1, Penalty minutes 50.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Alexis Lafrenière
1.41
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 | Lafrenière | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.49 | 1.20 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.34 | 1.05 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.08 | 0.23 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.19 | 0.29 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.11 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.21 | 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: Lafrenière vs Kucherov
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Lafrenière 1G 8A, 31 SOG · Kucherov 8G 19A, 54 SOG
Lafrenière blocked 1 of Kucherov's shots; Kucherov blocked 0 of Lafrenière's.
On the ice against each other (Lafrenière's side)
22:01 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27, from Lafrenière's side
- Shot attempts
- 19–28
- 40.4%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–1.8
- 22.6%
- Goals
- 1–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Lafrenière | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-01 | NYR 5–1 TBL | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2026-04-15 | NYR 4–2 TBL | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-11-29 | NYR 1–4 TBL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 3A 3S |
| 2025-11-12 | NYR 7–3 TBL | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-04-17 | NYR 4–0 TBL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-04-07 | NYR 1–5 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 2A 2S |
| 2024-12-28 | NYR 2–6 TBL | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 2A 5S |
| 2024-03-14 | NYR 3–6 TBL | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 4A 1S |
| 2024-02-07 | NYR 3–1 TBL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2023-12-30 | NYR 5–1 TBL | 0G 2A 1S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2023-04-05 | NYR 6–3 TBL | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2022-10-11 | NYR 3–1 TBL | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 3S |
Latest 12 of 19 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.
Alexis Lafrenière
4games (1 left)
1.2proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ BOSOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs TBLOpp allows 6th-most FP to LWLikely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2BSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs John Gibson (.901)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA1.2 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
Nikita Kucherov
2games (1 left)
2.5proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 13th-most FP to RWLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH2.5 ptsSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Alexis Lafrenière 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 Alexis Lafrenière's 1.41. Lafrenière had 57 points in 82 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, Alexis Lafrenière 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 Lafrenière and Kucherov done against each other?
- In 19 games against each other in our data, Lafrenière's team went 11–8. Lafrenière had 9 points (1 goals) and Kucherov had 27 (8 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 →