Who to start · 2025-26
Evgeni Malkin vs Will Cuylle
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Evgeni Malkin projects to 2.12 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Will Cuylle's 1.63.
Malkin had 61 points in 56 games; Cuylle had 38 in 82 games.
This week Malkin has 1 game left; Cuylle has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Malkin for 1.6 ESPN points to Cuylle's 1.4.
Evgeni Malkin has the better number in 19 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Malkin's biggest edges: Plus/minus +13, Sequence xG 53.9%, Offensive-zone start % 76.9%.
Cuylle's biggest edges: Hits 302, Blocked shots 68, 20+ mph bursts 122.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 8 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Evgeni Malkin
2.12
fantasy points per game
Will Cuylle
1.63
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Evgeni Malkin has the edge.
| Points per game from | Malkin | Cuylle |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.76 | 0.41 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.70 | 0.24 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.07 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.26 | 0.20 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.37 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.14 | 0.35 |
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: Malkin vs Cuylle
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2023-24 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Malkin 1G 4A, 21 SOG · Cuylle 3G 1A, 19 SOG
Malkin blocked 1 of Cuylle's shots; Cuylle blocked 0 of Malkin's.
On the ice against each other (Malkin's side)
23:08 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Malkin's side
- Shot attempts
- 32–16
- 66.7%
- Expected goals
- 2.4–1.0
- 70.3%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Malkin | Cuylle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-28 | PIT 2–3 NYR | 0G 0A 7S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-01-31 | PIT 6–5 NYR | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-10-11 | PIT 1–6 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-10-07 | PIT 3–0 NYR | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-02-23 | PIT 3–5 NYR | 1G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2024-12-06 | PIT 2–4 NYR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-10-09 | PIT 0–6 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-04-01 | PIT 5–2 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-03-16 | PIT 4–7 NYR | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-11-22 | PIT 0–1 NYR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
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.
Evgeni Malkin
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 7th-most FP to CLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL1.6 ptsOpp allows 14th-most FP to Cvs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Will Cuylle
4games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ BOSOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs TBLOpp allows 6th-most FP to LWLikely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2BOpp allows 13th-most FP to LWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs John Gibson (.901)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA1.4 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Evgeni Malkin or Will Cuylle in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Evgeni Malkin projects to 2.12 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Will Cuylle's 1.63. Malkin had 61 points in 56 games; Cuylle had 38 in 82 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, Evgeni Malkin or Will Cuylle?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Evgeni Malkin leads in 19 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Malkin and Cuylle done against each other?
- In 10 games against each other in our data, Malkin's team went 3–7. Malkin had 5 points (1 goals) and Cuylle had 4 (3 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 →