Who to start · 2025-26
Carter Verhaeghe vs Nikita Kucherov
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 3.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Carter Verhaeghe's 1.50.
Verhaeghe had 55 points in 77 games; Kucherov had 130 in 77 games.
This week Verhaeghe has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Kucherov has 1 left. We project Kucherov for 2.8 ESPN points to Verhaeghe's 1.6.
Nikita Kucherov has the better number in 27 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Verhaeghe's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.014, Faceoffs won 39, Hits 68.
Kucherov's biggest edges: Plus/minus +43, On-ice PDO 1046, Hardest shot 92.1.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Carter Verhaeghe
1.50
fantasy points per game
Nikita Kucherov
3.01
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nikita Kucherov has the edge.
| Points per game from | Verhaeghe | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.57 | 1.20 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.40 | 1.05 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.07 | 0.23 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.22 | 0.29 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.16 | 0.21 |
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: Verhaeghe vs Kucherov
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2019-20 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Verhaeghe 14G 11A, 94 SOG · Kucherov 12G 33A, 103 SOG
Goals each scored with the other picking up an assist (as teammates).
On the ice against each other (Verhaeghe's side)
8:00 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Verhaeghe's side
- Shot attempts
- 9–10
- 47.4%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.6
- 23.4%
- Goals
- 0–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Verhaeghe | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-05 | FLA 1–6 TBL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-12-27 | FLA 2–4 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 2G 0A 3S |
| 2025-12-15 | FLA 5–2 TBL | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-11-15 | FLA 1–3 TBL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 6S |
| 2025-04-30 · PO | FLA 6–3 TBL | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-04-28 · PO | FLA 4–2 TBL | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-04-26 · PO | FLA 1–5 TBL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 3A 1S |
| 2025-04-24 · PO | FLA 2–0 TBL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-04-22 · PO | FLA 6–2 TBL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-04-15 | FLA 1–5 TBL | 0G 1A 0S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2025-03-03 | FLA 2–1 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2024-12-23 | FLA 0–4 TBL | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 5S |
Latest 12 of 35 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.
Carter Verhaeghe
3games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ CAROpp allows 13th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ SJSOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ ANA1.6 ptsOpp allows 9th-most FP to CLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
Nikita Kucherov
2games (1 left)
2.8proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 12th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH2.8 ptsOpp allows 13th-most FP to RWSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Carter Verhaeghe or Nikita Kucherov in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 3.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Carter Verhaeghe's 1.50. Verhaeghe had 55 points in 77 games; Kucherov had 130 in 77 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, Carter Verhaeghe or Nikita Kucherov?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nikita Kucherov 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 Verhaeghe and Kucherov done against each other?
- In 35 games against each other in our data, Verhaeghe's team went 17–18. Verhaeghe had 25 points (14 goals) and Kucherov had 45 (12 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 →