Who to start · 2025-26
Cole Hutson vs Nikita Kucherov
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 2.79 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Cole Hutson's 1.54.
Hutson had 10 points in 14 games; Kucherov had 130 in 76 games.
This week Hutson has 2 games left with 1 soft matchup; Kucherov has 3 left with 1 soft and 1 tough matchups. In ESPN default points scoring we project Kucherov for 7.6 to Hutson's 3.0 over the games left.
Nikita Kucherov has the better number in 12 of the 14 stats both are ranked on.
Hutson's biggest edges: Ascension score 51, Forecheck xG /60 0.36, Transition attempts /60 1.18.
Kucherov's biggest edges: Sequence xG 57.2%, High-danger chances 56.9%, Expected goals 57.2%.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Nikita Kucherov rates ahead, +12.3 to +5.8 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: Hutson is steady, PP1 in 0 of last 5 (was 8 of 17); Kucherov is cooling, 6 P in last 5 (1.50/GP before).
- • Cole Hutson is a rookie: 14 NHL games before this season.
- • 2026-27 so far: 8 GP, 1 G, 3 A, 1 PPP, 19 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 8 GP, 3 G, 7 A, 3 PPP, 24 SOG.
Washington Capitals · Tampa Bay Lightning · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Cole Hutson
+5.8
category z-score total
Nikita Kucherov
+12.3
category z-score total
Under Standard (6 categories), Nikita Kucherov has the edge (Hutson wins 1, Kucherov wins 5 of 6 categories).
| Category | Hutson | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.18 | 0.51 |
| Assists / game | 0.46 | 1.04 |
| Plus/minus / game | -0.10 | 0.41 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.28 | 0.45 |
| Shots on goal / game | 1.85 | 3.03 |
| Hits / game | 1.01 | 0.35 |
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 scoring choice is shared with Who Should I Start: saved on this device, and on your account when you are signed in.
Head-to-head: Hutson vs Kucherov
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2026-27 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Hutson 0G 0A, 1 SOG · Kucherov 0G 1A, 3 SOG
On the ice against each other (Hutson's side)
4:47 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2026-27, from Hutson's side
- Shot attempts
- 5–4
- 55.6%
- Expected goals
- 0.0–0.3
- 13.3%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Hutson | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-03 | WSH 1–3 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
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
Oct 19 to Oct 25. 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 cover the games left: Edgehalla's rest-of-season rates per game, adjusted for each opponent's scoring allowed, in ESPN default points.
Scored in ESPN default points (G 2, A 1, PPP 0.5, SHP 0.5, SOG 0.1, HIT 0.1, BLK 0.5). Use your league's scoring
Cole Hutson
2games
3.0proj. ESPN default pts
- Tue, Oct 20 vs LAK1.6 ptsOpp allows 7th-most FP to Dvs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 24 vs BUF1.4 ptsOpp allows 15th-most FP to DLikely vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.910)
Nikita Kucherov
3games
7.6proj. ESPN default pts
- Tue, Oct 20 @ VGK2.2 ptsOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to RWvs Carter Hart (.891)
- Fri, Oct 23 @ COL2.3 ptsOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Mackenzie Blackwood (.903)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Cole Hutson or Nikita Kucherov in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 2.79 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Cole Hutson's 1.54. Hutson had 10 points in 14 games; Kucherov had 130 in 76 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, Cole Hutson or Nikita Kucherov?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nikita Kucherov leads in 12 of 14 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Hutson and Kucherov done against each other?
- In 1 games against each other in our data, Hutson's team went 0–1. Hutson had 0 points (0 goals) and Kucherov had 1 (0 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 →