Who to start · 2025-26
Charlie McAvoy 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 Charlie McAvoy's 2.41.
McAvoy had 61 points in 69 games; Kucherov had 130 in 77 games.
This week McAvoy has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Kucherov has 1 left. We project Kucherov for 2.5 ESPN points to McAvoy's 1.7.
Nikita Kucherov has the better number in 25 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
McAvoy's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 0, Hits 79, Blocked shots 129.
Kucherov's biggest edges: Corsi 56.2%, Scoring chances 56.4%, Offensive-zone start % 67.3%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Charlie McAvoy
2.41
fantasy points per game
Nikita Kucherov
3.04
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nikita Kucherov has the edge.
| Points per game from | McAvoy | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.32 | 1.14 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.72 | 1.12 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.16 | 0.24 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.16 | 0.30 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.11 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.93 | 0.19 |
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: McAvoy vs Kucherov
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.
McAvoy 5G 14A, 52 SOG · Kucherov 9G 20A, 93 SOG
McAvoy blocked 5 of Kucherov's shots; Kucherov blocked 0 of McAvoy's.
On the ice against each other (McAvoy's side)
28:05 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from McAvoy's side
- Shot attempts
- 34–23
- 59.6%
- Expected goals
- 1.7–0.9
- 64.7%
- Goals
- 1–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | McAvoy | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-11 | BOS 1–2 TBL | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-04-04 | BOS 1–3 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2026-02-01 | BOS 5–6 TBL | 0G 2A 1S | 1G 3A 8S |
| 2025-10-13 | BOS 3–4 TBL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-01-09 | BOS 1–4 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2024-03-27 | BOS 1–3 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2024-02-13 | BOS 2–3 TBL | 1G 0A 7S | 1G 0A 6S |
| 2024-01-06 | BOS 7–3 TBL | 1G 0A 1S | 1G 2A 5S |
| 2023-11-20 | BOS 4–5 TBL | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 7S |
| 2023-03-25 | BOS 2–1 TBL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-01-26 | BOS 2–3 TBL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 3A 1S |
| 2022-11-29 | BOS 3–1 TBL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 4S |
Latest 12 of 30 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.
Charlie McAvoy
3games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs NYROpp allows 9th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ WPGLikely vs Stuart Skinner (.888)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ MINB2B1.7 ptsOpp allows 6th-fewest FP to DSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Jesper Wallstedt (.916)
Nikita Kucherov
2games (1 left)
2.5proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 13th-most FP to RWLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH2.5 ptsSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Charlie McAvoy 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 Charlie McAvoy's 2.41. McAvoy had 61 points in 69 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, Charlie McAvoy or Nikita Kucherov?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nikita Kucherov leads in 25 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have McAvoy and Kucherov done against each other?
- In 30 games against each other in our data, McAvoy's team went 10–20. McAvoy had 19 points (5 goals) and Kucherov had 29 (9 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 →