Who to start · 2025-26
Eeli Tolvanen 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 Eeli Tolvanen's 1.71.
Tolvanen had 36 points in 78 games; Kucherov had 130 in 77 games.
This week Tolvanen has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Kucherov has 1 left. We project Kucherov for 2.8 ESPN points to Tolvanen's 1.3.
Nikita Kucherov has the better number in 27 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Tolvanen's biggest edges: Hits 187, Blocked shots 81, Ascension score 57.
Kucherov's biggest edges: Plus/minus +43, High-danger chances 56.9%, Fenwick 55.9%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Eeli Tolvanen
1.71
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 | Tolvanen | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.48 | 1.20 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.26 | 1.05 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.07 | 0.23 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.17 | 0.29 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.24 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.49 | 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: Tolvanen vs Kucherov
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Tolvanen 1G 3A, 16 SOG · Kucherov 6G 7A, 33 SOG
On the ice against each other (Tolvanen's side)
9:42 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27, from Tolvanen's side
- Shot attempts
- 7–13
- 35.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.3
- 37.4%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Tolvanen | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-01 | NYR 5–1 TBL | 1G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2026-03-26 | SEA 4–3 TBL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-02-23 | SEA 1–4 TBL | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-12-14 | SEA 1–5 TBL | 0G 1A 5S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2023-12-09 | SEA 3–4 TBL | 0G 1A 1S | 2G 1A 5S |
| 2023-10-30 | SEA 4–3 TBL | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 8S |
| 2023-01-16 | SEA 1–4 TBL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2022-11-19 | NSH 2–3 TBL | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 2A 6S |
| 2022-02-26 | NSH 2–3 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2018-04-01 | NSH 4–1 TBL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
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.
Eeli Tolvanen
4games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ BOSOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs TBLOpp allows the most FP to RWLikely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2BOpp allows 8th-most FP to RWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs John Gibson (.901)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA1.3 ptsOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
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 Eeli Tolvanen 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 Eeli Tolvanen's 1.71. Tolvanen had 36 points in 78 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, Eeli Tolvanen or Nikita Kucherov?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nikita Kucherov leads in 27 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Tolvanen and Kucherov done against each other?
- In 10 games against each other in our data, Tolvanen's team went 4–6. Tolvanen had 4 points (1 goals) and Kucherov had 13 (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 →