Who to start · 2025-26
Brandon Hagel vs Vasily Podkolzin
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brandon Hagel projects to 2.15 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Vasily Podkolzin's 1.91.
Hagel had 74 points in 71 games; Podkolzin had 37 in 82 games.
This week Hagel has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Podkolzin has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Hagel for 1.8 ESPN points to Podkolzin's 1.3.
Brandon Hagel has the better number in 22 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Hagel's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 2.07, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.36, High-danger chances 59.0%.
Podkolzin's biggest edges: Hits 242, Goals above expected +2.7, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.006.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 3 G, 1 A, 3 PPP, 11 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brandon Hagel
2.15
fantasy points per game
Vasily Podkolzin
1.91
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Brandon Hagel has the edge.
| Points per game from | Hagel | Podkolzin |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.95 | 0.76 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.25 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.07 | 0.10 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.30 | 0.21 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.06 | 0.30 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.25 | 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: Hagel 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.
Hagel 2G 2A, 14 SOG · Podkolzin 0G 0A, 6 SOG
Hagel's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 0–0 · Hagel's defensive zone 1–0 (2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Hagel's side)
10:18 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Hagel's side
- Shot attempts
- 12–13
- 48.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.6
- 47.4%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Hagel | Podkolzin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-21 | TBL 5–2 EDM | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-11-20 | TBL 2–1 EDM | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-02-25 | TBL 4–1 EDM | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-12-10 | TBL 1–2 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2021-11-21 | CHI 1–0 VAN | 1G 0A 3S | 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 LW
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH1.8 ptsOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Vasily Podkolzin
3games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VANOpp allows 9th-most FP to RW
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 9th-most FP to RW
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.3 ptsOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to RW
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Brandon Hagel or Vasily Podkolzin 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 Vasily Podkolzin's 1.91. Hagel had 74 points in 71 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, Brandon Hagel or Vasily Podkolzin?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Brandon Hagel 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 Hagel and Podkolzin done against each other?
- In 5 games against each other in our data, Hagel's team went 4–1. Hagel had 4 points (2 goals) and Podkolzin had 0 (0 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Hagel or Podkolzin?
- Against each other, Hagel has won 1 and Podkolzin 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 →