Edgehalla

Who to start · 2025-26

Braden Schneider 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 Braden Schneider's 1.37.

Schneider had 18 points in 82 games; Podkolzin had 37 in 82 games.

This week Schneider has 1 game left; Podkolzin has 1 left. We project Podkolzin for 1.5 ESPN points to Schneider's 1.4.

Vasily Podkolzin has the better number in 27 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

Schneider's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 0, Net penalties drawn /60 −0.14, Transition attempts /60 0.47.

Podkolzin's biggest edges: Ascension score 78, Goals above expected +2.7, Fenwick 53.8%.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 3 G, 1 A, 3 PPP, 11 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Braden Schneider

1.37

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 fromSchneiderPodkolzin
Goals (+2)0.040.76
Assists (+1)0.160.25
Power-play points (+0.5)0.000.10
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.000.00
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.140.21
Hits (+0.1)0.210.30
Blocks (+0.5)0.820.28

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: Schneider 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.

SchneiderPodkolzin
3Team record in 7 meetings4
3Points in those games2

Schneider 1G 2A, 8 SOG · Podkolzin 2G 0A, 11 SOG

2Hits on each other3
0Shots blocked by the other1

Schneider blocked 0 of Podkolzin's shots; Podkolzin blocked 1 of Schneider's.

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

9:20 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Schneider's side

Shot attempts
11–10
52.4%
Expected goals
0.6–0.5
54.1%
Goals
0–1

Games against each other

Games between Braden Schneider and Vasily Podkolzin
DateScoreSchneiderPodkolzin
2025-10-30NYR 4–3 EDM1G 1A 1S0G 0A 5S
2025-10-14NYR 0–2 EDM0G 0A 2S0G 0A 0S
2025-03-16NYR 1–3 EDM0G 0A 0S0G 0A 1S
2024-11-23NYR 2–6 EDM0G 0A 0S1G 0A 1S
2023-02-15NYR 6–4 VAN0G 1A 2S0G 0A 1S
2023-02-08NYR 4–3 VAN0G 0A 0S1G 0A 3S
2022-02-27NYR 2–5 VAN0G 0A 3S0G 0A 0S

Every stat, side by side

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

SchneiderPodkolzin

Fantasy box score

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.

Braden Schneider

4games (1 left)

1.4proj. ESPN pts (season rate)

  • Tue, Sep 29 @ BOS
  • Thu, Oct 1 vs TBL
  • Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2B
  • Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA1.4 pts

Vasily Podkolzin

3games (1 left)

1.5proj. ESPN pts (season rate)

  • Tue, Sep 29 vs VAN
  • Thu, Oct 1 @ VAN
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.5 pts

FAQ

Should I start Braden Schneider 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 Braden Schneider's 1.37. Schneider had 18 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, Braden Schneider or Vasily Podkolzin?
On 2025-26 numbers, Vasily Podkolzin 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 Schneider and Podkolzin done against each other?
In 7 games against each other in our data, Schneider's team went 3–4. Schneider had 3 points (1 goals) and Podkolzin had 2 (2 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 →