Who to start · 2025-26
Artemi Panarin 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 Artemi Panarin's 2.00.
Panarin had 84 points in 78 games; Kucherov had 130 in 77 games.
This week Panarin has 1 game left; Kucherov has 1 left. We project Kucherov for 2.8 ESPN points to Panarin's 2.0.
Nikita Kucherov has the better number in 27 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Panarin's biggest edges: Ascension score 54, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.26, Offensive-zone start % 70.9%.
Kucherov's biggest edges: Goals above expected +3.9, Plus/minus +43, Penalty minutes 50.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Artemi Panarin
2.00
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 | Panarin | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.80 | 1.20 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.67 | 1.05 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.14 | 0.23 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.28 | 0.29 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.01 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.10 | 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: Panarin vs Kucherov
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Panarin 10G 15A, 92 SOG · Kucherov 15G 33A, 99 SOG
Panarin blocked 1 of Kucherov's shots; Kucherov blocked 0 of Panarin's.
On the ice against each other (Panarin's side)
7:27 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Panarin's side
- Shot attempts
- 6–9
- 40.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.4
- 25.6%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Panarin | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-29 | NYR 1–4 TBL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 3A 3S |
| 2025-11-12 | NYR 7–3 TBL | 0G 4A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-04-17 | NYR 4–0 TBL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-04-07 | NYR 1–5 TBL | 0G 1A 5S | 1G 2A 2S |
| 2024-12-28 | NYR 2–6 TBL | 1G 0A 6S | 1G 2A 5S |
| 2024-03-14 | NYR 3–6 TBL | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 4A 1S |
| 2024-02-07 | NYR 3–1 TBL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2023-12-30 | NYR 5–1 TBL | 3G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2023-04-05 | NYR 6–3 TBL | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2022-12-29 | NYR 1–2 TBL | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 8S |
| 2022-10-11 | NYR 3–1 TBL | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2022-06-11 · PO | NYR 1–2 TBL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
Latest 12 of 29 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.
Artemi Panarin
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ COLOpp allows 7th-most FP to LWLikely vs Mackenzie Blackwood (.903)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ SJS2.0 ptsOpp allows 15th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge −3.2 win%Likely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)
Nikita Kucherov
2games (1 left)
2.8proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 12th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH2.8 ptsOpp allows 13th-most FP to RWSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Artemi Panarin 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 Artemi Panarin's 2.00. Panarin had 84 points in 78 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, Artemi Panarin 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 Panarin and Kucherov done against each other?
- In 29 games against each other in our data, Panarin's team went 13–16. Panarin had 25 points (10 goals) and Kucherov had 48 (15 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 →