Who to start · 2025-26
Dylan Strome 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 Dylan Strome's 1.72.
Strome had 58 points in 80 games; Kucherov had 130 in 77 games.
This week Strome has 1 game left; Kucherov has 1 left. We project Kucherov for 2.8 ESPN points to Strome's 1.8.
Nikita Kucherov has the better number in 29 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Strome's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 777, Blocked shots 53, Ascension score 55.
Kucherov's biggest edges: Goals above expected +3.9, 20+ mph bursts 138, Luck Meter +54.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Dylan Strome
1.72
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 | Strome | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.45 | 1.20 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.58 | 1.05 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.15 | 0.23 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.29 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.01 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.34 | 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: Strome 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.
Strome 2G 10A, 32 SOG · Kucherov 5G 13A, 37 SOG
Strome blocked 2 of Kucherov's shots; Kucherov blocked 0 of Strome's.
On the ice against each other (Strome's side)
11:51 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Strome's side
- Shot attempts
- 6–11
- 35.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.3
- 51.0%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Strome | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-22 | WSH 3–5 TBL | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 2A 2S |
| 2025-11-08 | WSH 2–3 TBL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-10-14 | WSH 3–2 TBL | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-03-01 | WSH 1–3 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-11-27 | WSH 5–4 TBL | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2024-10-26 | WSH 0–3 TBL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-04-13 | WSH 4–2 TBL | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-02-22 | WSH 5–3 TBL | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2023-12-23 | WSH 1–2 TBL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-03-30 | WSH 1–5 TBL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-11-13 | WSH 3–6 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2022-11-11 | WSH 5–1 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
Latest 12 of 17 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.
Dylan Strome
2games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ CAROpp allows 13th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TBLB2B1.8 ptsOpp allows 11th-most FP to CSchedule edge −13.3 win%vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
Nikita Kucherov
2games (1 left)
2.8proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 12th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH2.8 ptsOpp allows 13th-most FP to RWSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Dylan Strome 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 Dylan Strome's 1.72. Strome had 58 points in 80 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, Dylan Strome or Nikita Kucherov?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nikita Kucherov leads in 29 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Strome and Kucherov done against each other?
- In 17 games against each other in our data, Strome's team went 7–10. Strome had 12 points (2 goals) and Kucherov had 18 (5 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 →