Who to start · 2025-26
Chandler Stephenson vs Pavel Buchnevich
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Chandler Stephenson projects to 1.47 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Buchnevich's 1.30.
Stephenson had 49 points in 80 games; Buchnevich had 48 in 81 games.
This week Stephenson has 2 games left with 1 soft matchup; Buchnevich has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Stephenson for 2.9 ESPN points to Buchnevich's 1.5.
Chandler Stephenson has the better number in 20 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Stephenson's biggest edges: Top skating speed 23.3, Draw Equity /100 +0.036, Faceoff win % 52.1%.
Buchnevich's biggest edges: Sequence xG 52.5%, Expected goals 52.5%, Scoring chances 50.7%.
Head to head on the dot, Stephenson leads Buchnevich 9–2.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Chandler Stephenson
1.47
fantasy points per game
Pavel Buchnevich
1.30
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Chandler Stephenson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Stephenson | Buchnevich |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.50 | 0.46 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.39 | 0.32 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.09 | 0.08 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.12 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.02 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.33 | 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: Stephenson vs Buchnevich
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Stephenson 3G 6A, 22 SOG · Buchnevich 4G 6A, 37 SOG
Stephenson's offensive zone 3–0 · neutral 3–0 · Stephenson's defensive zone 3–2 (2022-23 to 2025-26)
Stephenson blocked 1 of Buchnevich's shots; Buchnevich blocked 0 of Stephenson's.
On the ice against each other (Stephenson's side)
8:19 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Stephenson's side
- Shot attempts
- 5–10
- 33.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.9
- 25.5%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Stephenson | Buchnevich |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-04 | SEA 2–3 STL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2026-02-26 | SEA 1–5 STL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-11-08 | SEA 4–3 STL | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-04-12 | SEA 4–3 STL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-02-25 | SEA 2–7 STL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-10-08 | SEA 2–3 STL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-03-25 | VGK 2–1 STL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 7S |
| 2023-12-06 | VGK 6–3 STL | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-12-04 | VGK 1–2 STL | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2023-03-12 | VGK 5–3 STL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-12-23 | VGK 5–4 STL | 1G 3A 3S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2022-11-12 | VGK 2–3 STL | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 21 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.
Chandler Stephenson
3games (2 left)
2.9proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ CGYOpp allows 2nd-most FP to C
- Sat, Oct 3 @ EDM1.5 ptsOpp allows 12th-most FP to C
- Sun, Oct 4 vs CGYB2B1.5 ptsOpp allows 2nd-most FP to C
Pavel Buchnevich
2games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DALOpp allows 11th-most FP to LW
- Sat, Oct 3 @ COLB2B1.5 ptsOpp allows 7th-most FP to LWSchedule edge −12.8 win%
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Chandler Stephenson or Pavel Buchnevich in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Chandler Stephenson projects to 1.47 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Buchnevich's 1.30. Stephenson had 49 points in 80 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, Chandler Stephenson or Pavel Buchnevich?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Chandler Stephenson leads in 20 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Stephenson and Buchnevich done against each other?
- In 21 games against each other in our data, Stephenson's team went 12–9. Stephenson had 9 points (3 goals) and Buchnevich had 10 (4 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Stephenson or Buchnevich?
- Against each other, Stephenson has won 9 and Buchnevich 2 of their 11 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 →