Who to start · 2025-26
Brandon Hagel vs Pavel Buchnevich
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brandon Hagel projects to 2.15 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Buchnevich's 1.30.
Hagel had 74 points in 71 games; Buchnevich had 48 in 81 games.
This week Hagel has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Buchnevich has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Hagel for 1.8 ESPN points to Buchnevich's 1.5.
Brandon Hagel has the better number in 25 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Hagel's biggest edges: Top skating speed 23.2, Plus/minus +34, Transition attempts /60 2.07.
Buchnevich's biggest edges: Goals above expected −0.4, Faceoffs won 98, Hardest shot 88.9.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brandon Hagel
2.15
fantasy points per game
Pavel Buchnevich
1.30
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Brandon Hagel has the edge.
| Points per game from | Hagel | Buchnevich |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.95 | 0.46 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.32 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.07 | 0.08 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.30 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.06 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.25 | 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: Hagel 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.
Hagel 2G 5A, 21 SOG · Buchnevich 5G 6A, 22 SOG
Hagel's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 1–0 · Hagel's defensive zone 0–0 (2024-25)
On the ice against each other (Hagel's side)
3:34 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Hagel's side
- Shot attempts
- 4–2
- 66.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.0
- 79.8%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Hagel | Buchnevich |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-16 | TBL 2–3 STL | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-12-19 | TBL 3–1 STL | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2024-11-05 | TBL 2–3 STL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-12-19 | TBL 6–1 STL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-11-14 | TBL 0–5 STL | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2023-01-14 | TBL 4–2 STL | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2022-11-25 | TBL 5–2 STL | 1G 1A 2S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2022-02-27 | CHI 0–4 STL | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2022-02-12 | CHI 1–5 STL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2021-11-26 | CHI 3–2 STL | 1G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2021-10-30 | CHI 0–1 STL | 0G 0A 5S | 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.
Brandon Hagel
2games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 7th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH1.8 ptsOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)
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 −16.8 win%vs Mackenzie Blackwood (.903)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Brandon Hagel or Pavel Buchnevich in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brandon Hagel projects to 2.15 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Buchnevich's 1.30. Hagel had 74 points in 71 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, Brandon Hagel or Pavel Buchnevich?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Brandon Hagel leads in 25 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Hagel and Buchnevich done against each other?
- In 11 games against each other in our data, Hagel's team went 5–6. Hagel had 7 points (2 goals) and Buchnevich had 11 (5 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Hagel or Buchnevich?
- Against each other, Hagel has won 1 and Buchnevich 0 of their 1 head-to-head draws.
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 →