Who to start · 2025-26
Clayton Keller 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 Clayton Keller's 2.15.
Keller had 88 points in 82 games; Kucherov had 130 in 77 games.
This week Keller has 2 games left; Kucherov has 1 left. We project Keller for 4.1 ESPN points to Kucherov's 3.0.
Nikita Kucherov has the better number in 22 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Keller's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 13, Top skating speed 22.8, Ascension score 50.
Kucherov's biggest edges: Goals above expected +3.9, Luck Meter +54, Transition attempts /60 1.45.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 2 PPP, 4 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Clayton Keller
2.15
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 | Keller | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.59 | 1.20 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.83 | 1.05 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.23 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.28 | 0.29 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.01 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.21 | 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: Keller 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.
Keller 8G 6A, 46 SOG · Kucherov 6G 13A, 51 SOG
On the ice against each other (Keller's side)
2:21 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Keller's side
- Shot attempts
- 1–0
- 100.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.0
- 100.0%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Keller | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-26 | UTA 0–2 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 5S |
| 2025-11-02 | UTA 2–4 TBL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-03-27 | UTA 0–8 TBL | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 3A 5S |
| 2025-03-22 | UTA 6–4 TBL | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 6S |
| 2024-01-25 | ARI 3–6 TBL | 1G 1A 3S | 1G 2A 6S |
| 2023-11-28 | ARI 3–1 TBL | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2023-02-15 | ARI 1–0 TBL | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-12-31 | ARI 3–5 TBL | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 2A 5S |
| 2022-02-11 | ARI 3–4 TBL | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2020-02-22 | ARI 7–3 TBL | 2G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2020-01-09 | ARI 0–4 TBL | 0G 0A 3S | 2G 0A 8S |
| 2019-03-18 | ARI 1–4 TBL | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
Latest 12 of 15 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.
Clayton Keller
3games (2 left)
4.1proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs CHI
- Sat, Oct 3 @ CBJ2.0 ptsSchedule edge −1.0 win%
- Sun, Oct 4 @ NYRB2B2.0 ptsSchedule edge −9.3 win%
Nikita Kucherov
2games (1 left)
3.0proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYR
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH3.0 ptsSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Clayton Keller 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 Clayton Keller's 2.15. Keller had 88 points in 82 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, Clayton Keller or Nikita Kucherov?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nikita Kucherov 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 Keller and Kucherov done against each other?
- In 15 games against each other in our data, Keller's team went 6–9. Keller had 14 points (8 goals) and Kucherov had 19 (6 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 →