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Who to start · 2025-26

Alexis Lafrenière vs Pavel Buchnevich

Alexis LafrenièreAlexis LafrenièreRangers · Left wingvsPavel BuchnevichPavel BuchnevichBlues · Left wing

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Alexis Lafrenière projects to 1.41 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Buchnevich's 1.30.

Lafrenière had 57 points in 82 games; Buchnevich had 48 in 81 games.

This week Lafrenière has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Buchnevich has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Buchnevich for 1.5 ESPN points to Lafrenière's 1.2.

Alexis Lafrenière has the better number in 23 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

Lafrenière's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.38, Hits 84, High-danger chances 58.8%.

Buchnevich's biggest edges: Hardest shot 88.9, Ascension score 44, Faceoffs won 98.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Alexis Lafrenière

1.41

fantasy points per game

Pavel Buchnevich

1.30

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Alexis Lafrenière has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromLafrenièreBuchnevich
Goals (+2)0.490.46
Assists (+1)0.340.32
Power-play points (+0.5)0.080.08
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.000.00
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.190.16
Hits (+0.1)0.110.03
Blocks (+0.5)0.210.23

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 Buchnevich

Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2020-21 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.

LafrenièreBuchnevich
5Team record in 9 meetings4
5Points in those games7

Lafrenière 3G 2A, 20 SOG · Buchnevich 4G 3A, 26 SOG

0Hits on each other1
0Shots blocked by the other1

Lafrenière blocked 0 of Buchnevich's shots; Buchnevich blocked 1 of Lafrenière's.

1Penalties drawn off the other0
3Goals set up by the other2

Goals each scored with the other picking up an assist (as teammates).

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

11:30 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Lafrenière's side

Shot attempts
6–11
35.3%
Expected goals
0.4–0.6
36.8%
Goals
0–0

Games against each other

Games between Alexis Lafrenière and Pavel Buchnevich
DateScoreLafrenièreBuchnevich
2025-12-18NYR 2–1 STL0G 0A 0S0G 0A 3S
2025-11-24NYR 3–2 STL1G 0A 1S0G 1A 0S
2024-12-15NYR 2–3 STL0G 1A 2S1G 0A 3S
2024-11-25NYR 2–5 STL0G 0A 2S1G 0A 4S
2024-03-09NYR 4–0 STL0G 0A 1S0G 0A 4S
2024-01-11NYR 2–5 STL0G 0A 7S1G 2A 2S
2023-04-06NYR 2–3 STL0G 0A 2S0G 0A 1S
2022-12-05NYR 6–4 STL1G 1A 3S1G 0A 4S
2022-03-02NYR 5–3 STL1G 0A 2S0G 0A 5S

Every stat, side by side

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

LafrenièreBuchnevich

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.

Alexis Lafrenière

4games (1 left)

1.2proj. 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 UTA1.2 pts
    Opp allows 3rd-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)

Pavel Buchnevich

2games (1 left)

1.5proj. ESPN pts

  • Fri, Oct 2 @ DAL
    Opp allows 11th-most FP to LWLikely vs Jake Oettinger (.899)
  • Sat, Oct 3 @ COLB2B1.5 pts
    Opp allows 7th-most FP to LWSchedule edge −13.4 win%Likely vs Scott Wedgewood (.921)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Alexis Lafrenière or Pavel Buchnevich in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Alexis Lafrenière projects to 1.41 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Buchnevich's 1.30. Lafrenière had 57 points in 82 games; Buchnevich had 48 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, Alexis Lafrenière or Pavel Buchnevich?
On 2025-26 numbers, Alexis Lafrenière leads in 23 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 Buchnevich done against each other?
In 9 games against each other in our data, Lafrenière's team went 5–4. Lafrenière had 5 points (3 goals) and Buchnevich had 7 (4 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 →