Who to start · 2025-26
Bowen Byram vs Vasily Podkolzin
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Vasily Podkolzin projects to 1.91 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Bowen Byram's 1.37.
Byram had 42 points in 82 games; Podkolzin had 37 in 82 games.
This week Byram has 1 game left; Podkolzin has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Byram for 2.0 ESPN points to Podkolzin's 1.3.
Vasily Podkolzin has the better number in 22 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Byram's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 0, Power-play time per game 1:35, Transition attempts /60 0.41.
Podkolzin's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.38, Goals above expected +2.7, Hits 242.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 3 G, 1 A, 3 PPP, 11 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Bowen Byram
1.37
fantasy points per game
Vasily Podkolzin
1.91
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Vasily Podkolzin has the edge.
| Points per game from | Byram | Podkolzin |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.24 | 0.76 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.33 | 0.25 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.04 | 0.10 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.12 | 0.21 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.30 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.59 | 0.28 |
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: Byram vs Podkolzin
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 1G 0A, 6 SOG · Podkolzin 1G 0A, 7 SOG
On the ice against each other (Byram's side)
10:37 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Byram's side
- Shot attempts
- 14–7
- 66.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.9–0.3
- 75.2%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Byram | Podkolzin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-09 | BUF 4–3 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-11-17 | BUF 5–1 EDM | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-03-10 | BUF 3–2 EDM | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-01-25 | BUF 2–3 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-03-19 | BUF 2–3 VAN | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2021-11-11 | COL 7–1 VAN | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
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)
Vasily Podkolzin
3games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VANOpp allows 9th-most FP to RWLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 9th-most FP to RWLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.3 ptsOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Bowen Byram 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 Bowen Byram's 1.37. Byram had 42 points in 82 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, Bowen Byram or Vasily Podkolzin?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Vasily Podkolzin leads in 22 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 Podkolzin done against each other?
- In 6 games against each other in our data, Byram's team went 4–2. Byram had 1 points (1 goals) and Podkolzin had 1 (1 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 →