Who to start · 2025-26
Bowen Byram vs Pavel Buchnevich
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Bowen Byram projects to 1.37 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Buchnevich's 1.30.
Byram had 42 points in 82 games; Buchnevich had 48 in 81 games.
This week Byram has 1 game left; Buchnevich has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Byram for 2.0 ESPN points to Buchnevich's 1.5.
Pavel Buchnevich has the better number in 19 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Byram's biggest edges: Top skating speed 22.9, Plus/minus +15, 20+ mph bursts 107.
Buchnevich's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.31, Goals above expected −0.4, Hardest shot 88.9.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Bowen Byram
1.37
fantasy points per game
Pavel Buchnevich
1.30
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Bowen Byram has the edge.
| Points per game from | Byram | Buchnevich |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.24 | 0.46 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.33 | 0.32 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.04 | 0.08 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.12 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.59 | 0.23 |
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: Byram vs Buchnevich
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Byram 3G 7A, 38 SOG · Buchnevich 5G 8A, 39 SOG
Byram blocked 1 of Buchnevich's shots; Buchnevich blocked 0 of Byram's.
On the ice against each other (Byram's side)
8:28 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Byram's side
- Shot attempts
- 4–6
- 40.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.1
- 49.8%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Byram | Buchnevich |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-29 | BUF 4–2 STL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-11-06 | BUF 0–3 STL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-12-29 | BUF 4–2 STL | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-11-14 | BUF 4–3 STL | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2023-12-29 | COL 2–1 STL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2023-11-11 | COL 2–8 STL | 0G 0A 2S | 3G 0A 6S |
| 2023-11-01 | COL 4–1 STL | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-02-18 | COL 4–1 STL | 2G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-05-27 · PO | COL 3–2 STL | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-05-25 · PO | COL 4–5 STL | 0G 2A 4S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2022-05-23 · PO | COL 6–3 STL | 0G 2A 3S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2022-05-21 · PO | COL 5–2 STL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
Latest 12 of 17 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.
Bowen Byram
3games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ VGKOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Carter Hart (.891)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ UTAOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to DLikely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ BUF2.0 ptsOpp allows 11th-most FP to DSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.910)
Pavel Buchnevich
2games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DALOpp allows 11th-most FP to LWLikely vs Jake Oettinger (.899)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ COLB2B1.5 ptsOpp allows 7th-most FP to LWSchedule edge −13.4 win%Likely vs Scott Wedgewood (.921)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Bowen Byram or Pavel Buchnevich in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Bowen Byram projects to 1.37 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Buchnevich's 1.30. Byram had 42 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, Bowen Byram or Pavel Buchnevich?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Pavel Buchnevich leads in 19 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Byram and Buchnevich done against each other?
- In 17 games against each other in our data, Byram's team went 12–5. Byram had 10 points (3 goals) and Buchnevich had 13 (5 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 →