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Who to start · 2025-26

Aliaksei Protas vs Vasily Podkolzin

Aliaksei ProtasAliaksei ProtasCapitals · Left wingvsVasily PodkolzinVasily PodkolzinOilers · Right wing

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Vasily Podkolzin projects to 1.91 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Aliaksei Protas's 1.58.

Protas had 52 points in 76 games; Podkolzin had 37 in 82 games.

This week Protas has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Podkolzin has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Protas for 1.8 ESPN points to Podkolzin's 1.3.

Aliaksei Protas has the better number in 19 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

Protas's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.30, Transition attempts /60 1.46, Shorthanded points 3.

Podkolzin's biggest edges: Hits 242, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.006, Penalty minutes 63.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 3 G, 1 A, 3 PPP, 11 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Aliaksei Protas

1.58

fantasy points per game

Vasily Podkolzin

1.91

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Vasily Podkolzin has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromProtasPodkolzin
Goals (+2)0.620.76
Assists (+1)0.400.25
Power-play points (+0.5)0.010.10
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.020.00
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.210.21
Hits (+0.1)0.040.30
Blocks (+0.5)0.290.28

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

Aliaksei Protas and Vasily Podkolzin have no head-to-head events in our data yet (regular season and playoffs since 2019-20).

Every stat, side by side

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

ProtasPodkolzin

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.

Aliaksei Protas

2games (1 left)

1.8proj. ESPN pts

  • Fri, Oct 2 @ CAR
    Opp allows 12th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
  • Sat, Oct 3 @ TBLB2B1.8 pts
    Opp allows 6th-most FP to LWSchedule edge −13.3 win%Likely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)

Vasily Podkolzin

3games (1 left)

1.3proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 vs VAN
    Opp allows 7th-most FP to RWLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
  • Thu, Oct 1 @ VAN
    Opp allows 7th-most FP to RWLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.3 pts
    Opp allows 4th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Aliaksei Protas or Vasily Podkolzin in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Vasily Podkolzin projects to 1.91 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Aliaksei Protas's 1.58. Protas had 52 points in 76 games; Podkolzin had 37 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, Aliaksei Protas or Vasily Podkolzin?
On 2025-26 numbers, Aliaksei Protas leads in 19 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.

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 →