Who to start · 2025-26
Egor Chinakhov 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 Egor Chinakhov's 1.49.
Chinakhov had 42 points in 72 games; Kucherov had 130 in 77 games.
This week Chinakhov has 1 game left; Kucherov has 1 left. We project Kucherov for 2.8 ESPN points to Chinakhov's 1.7.
Nikita Kucherov has the better number in 25 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Chinakhov's biggest edges: Top skating speed 23.6, Ascension score 59, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.49.
Kucherov's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 50, Ice-time share 33.5%, Ice time per game 20:04.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Egor Chinakhov
1.49
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 | Chinakhov | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.67 | 1.20 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.27 | 1.05 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.07 | 0.23 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.20 | 0.29 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.20 | 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: Chinakhov vs Kucherov
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Chinakhov 3G 0A, 17 SOG · Kucherov 4G 15A, 36 SOG
Chinakhov blocked 0 of Kucherov's shots; Kucherov blocked 1 of Chinakhov's.
On the ice against each other (Chinakhov's side)
9:14 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Chinakhov's side
- Shot attempts
- 4–13
- 23.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.6
- 14.8%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Chinakhov | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-02 | PIT 3–6 TBL | 2G 0A 4S | 1G 2A 4S |
| 2026-01-13 | PIT 1–2 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-03-04 | CBJ 2–6 TBL | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 2A 7S |
| 2024-11-21 | CBJ 7–6 TBL | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 3A 6S |
| 2024-02-10 | CBJ 2–4 TBL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2022-12-15 | CBJ 1–4 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 3A 4S |
| 2022-10-14 | CBJ 2–5 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2022-04-28 | CBJ 5–2 TBL | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2022-04-26 | CBJ 1–4 TBL | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 3A 1S |
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.
Egor Chinakhov
2games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 5th-most FP to RWLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL1.7 ptsOpp allows 12th-most FP to RWvs Jakub Dobes (.901)
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 Egor Chinakhov 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 Egor Chinakhov's 1.49. Chinakhov had 42 points in 72 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, Egor Chinakhov or Nikita Kucherov?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nikita Kucherov leads in 25 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Chinakhov and Kucherov done against each other?
- In 9 games against each other in our data, Chinakhov's team went 2–7. Chinakhov had 3 points (3 goals) and Kucherov had 19 (4 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 →