Who to start · 2025-26
Connor McDavid vs Jiri Kulich
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Connor McDavid projects to 3.76 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Jiri Kulich's 1.26.
McDavid had 138 points in 82 games; Kulich had 5 in 12 games.
This week McDavid has 2 games left with 2 tough matchups; Kulich has 2 left with 1 soft and 1 tough matchups. In ESPN default points scoring we project McDavid for 6.1 to Kulich's 2.5 over the games left.
Connor McDavid has the better number in 3 of the 3 stats both are ranked on.
McDavid's biggest edges: Draw Equity /100 +0.000, Faceoff win % 49.5%, Luck Meter +14.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Connor McDavid rates ahead, +21.0 to -2.2 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: McDavid is rising, 14 P in last 5 (2.00/GP before); Kulich has no recent trend.
- • 2026-27 so far: 9 GP, 6 G, 20 A, 8 PPP, 22 SOG.
- • Kulich has played 7 of the Sabres' 9 games since Oct 1 (in and out of the lineup).
- • 2026-27 so far: 7 GP, 1 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 8 SOG.
Edmonton Oilers · Buffalo Sabres · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Connor McDavid
+21.0
category z-score total
Jiri Kulich
-2.2
category z-score total
Under Standard (6 categories), Connor McDavid has the edge (McDavid wins 6, Kulich wins 0 of 6 categories).
| Category | McDavid | Kulich |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.62 | 0.22 |
| Assists / game | 1.52 | 0.20 |
| Plus/minus / game | 0.84 | -0.09 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.74 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal / game | 3.25 | 1.50 |
| Hits / game | 0.85 | 0.83 |
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
Connor McDavid and Jiri Kulich have no head-to-head events in our data yet (regular season and playoffs since 2019-20).
Faceoffs: McDavid vs Kulich
Model: Connor McDavid wins 53.0% of draws against Jiri Kulich on average (L shot vs L shot). Same-handed, so the dot decides who is on his strong side; the gap between the left and right dots is the real matchup.
| McDavid at | OZ left | OZ right | NZ left (att.) | NZ right (att.) | Centre | NZ left (def.) | NZ right (def.) | DZ left | DZ right |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 59% | 46% | 60% | 47% | 53% | 60% | 47% | 61% | 48% |
| Road | 58% | 45% | 59% | 46% | 53% | 59% | 46% | 60% | 47% |
They have not faced each other on a draw in the seasons we track.
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
Connor McDavid
3games (2 left)
6.1proj. ESPN default pts
- Tue, Oct 20 vs MINOpp allows 14th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jesper Wallstedt (.916)
- Thu, Oct 22 vs CAR2.9 pts
- Sat, Oct 24 vs TOR3.2 ptsOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
Jiri Kulich
2games
2.5proj. ESPN default pts
- Wed, Oct 21 vs PHI1.4 pts
- Sat, Oct 24 @ WSH1.1 ptsOpp allows 7th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Logan Thompson (.912)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Connor McDavid or Jiri Kulich in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Connor McDavid projects to 3.76 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Jiri Kulich's 1.26. McDavid had 138 points in 82 games; Kulich had 5 in 12 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, Connor McDavid or Jiri Kulich?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Connor McDavid leads in 3 of 3 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
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 →