Who to start · 2026-27
Dmitry Orlov vs Nazem Kadri
In 2026-27, Nazem Kadri scored 1.69 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Dmitry Orlov's 1.64.
Orlov had 14 points in 22 games; Kadri had 17 in 21 games.
This week Orlov has 1 game left; Kadri has no games left. In ESPN default points scoring we project Orlov for 1.6 to Kadri's 0.0 over the games left.
Nazem Kadri has the better number in 26 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Orlov's biggest edges: Goals above expected +2.1, Hits 33, Luck Meter +69.
Kadri's biggest edges: Ice-time share 30.6%, Ice time per game 18:31, Expected goals 55.5%.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Nazem Kadri rates ahead, +2.4 to +1.7 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: Orlov is steady; Kadri is rising, ixG/60 1.94 (was 1.09).
- • Orlov, last 10 games (Oct 27–Nov 14): 1 G, 8 A, 5 PPP, 10 SOG.
- • Kadri, last 10 games (Oct 25–Nov 14): 4 G, 5 A, 5 PPP, 32 SOG.
San Jose Sharks · Colorado Avalanche · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Under Standard (6 categories), Nazem Kadri has the edge (Orlov wins 3, Kadri wins 3 of 6 categories).
| Category | Orlov | Kadri |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.14 | 0.24 |
| Assists / game | 0.50 | 0.57 |
| Plus/minus / game | -0.45 | 0.05 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.36 | 0.38 |
| Shots on goal / game | 1.00 | 2.86 |
| Hits / game | 1.50 | 0.48 |
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: Orlov vs Kadri
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.
Orlov 2G 7A, 23 SOG · Kadri 10G 5A, 59 SOG
Orlov blocked 1 of Kadri's shots; Kadri blocked 0 of Orlov's.
On the ice against each other (Orlov's side)
17:24 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Orlov's side
- Shot attempts
- 14–20
- 41.2%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–1.3
- 29.4%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Orlov | Kadri |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-26 | SJS 1–4 CGY | 0G 0A 0S | 2G 0A 5S |
| 2026-01-31 | SJS 2–3 CGY | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-12-16 | SJS 6–3 CGY | 0G 1A 0S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-11-13 | SJS 0–2 CGY | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-03-02 | CAR 2–1 CGY | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2024-10-24 | CAR 4–2 CGY | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 7S |
| 2024-03-10 | CAR 7–2 CGY | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2023-12-07 | CAR 2–3 CGY | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2023-02-28 | BOS 4–3 CGY | 2G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2021-10-19 | WSH 6–3 COL | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2019-10-14 | WSH 3–6 COL | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 2A 3S |
| 2019-01-23 | WSH 3–6 TOR | 0G 0A 3S | 3G 1A 4S |
Latest 12 of 16 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, Luck & trend, NHL EDGE tracking continue below
Every stat, side by side (continued)
Transition, turnovers & faceoffs
Usage
Special teams & discipline
This week's schedule
Nov 9 to Nov 15. 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
Dmitry Orlov
4games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN default pts
- Mon, Nov 9 vs NYI
- Wed, Nov 11 vs PITOpp allows 12th-most FP to DLikely vs Sergei Murashov (.893)
- Sat, Nov 14 @ UTAOpp allows 10th-most FP to DLikely vs Karel Vejmelka (.872)
Nazem Kadri
3games (0 left)
0.0proj. ESPN default pts
- Tue, Nov 10 @ TOROpp allows 16th-most FP to CLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.881)
- Thu, Nov 12 @ OTTOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Linus Ullmark (.939)
- Sat, Nov 14 @ MTLOpp allows 8th-most FP to CLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.852)
Player data stories
How the game changed, told through the numbers.
- In 2022-23, Four NHL Players Wore a Number in the 90s for Every One in No. 9 The count was 53 to 13, and the incomplete 2025-26 rosters show the same split, 51 to 12.
- The 1,000-Game Club Had Its Biggest Year. Getting In Is No Easier. Seventeen players reached 1,000 NHL games in 2025-26, more than in any season before, in the biggest league the NHL has had.
- Only 14 NHL Defencemen Still Score Like Ken Daneyko A stay-at-home defenceman stays back to defend and leaves the scoring to others.
- How Much Lighter Did the NHL Really Get? Teams write down NHL weights.
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Dmitry Orlov or Nazem Kadri in fantasy hockey?
- In 2026-27, Nazem Kadri scored 1.69 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Dmitry Orlov's 1.64. Orlov had 14 points in 22 games; Kadri had 17 in 21 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, Dmitry Orlov or Nazem Kadri?
- On 2026-27 numbers, Nazem Kadri leads in 26 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Orlov and Kadri done against each other?
- In 16 games against each other in our data, Orlov's team went 8–8. Orlov had 9 points (2 goals) and Kadri had 15 (10 goals).
2026-27 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 →