Who to start · 2025-26
Gavin McKenna vs Nikita Kucherov
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 2.79 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Gavin McKenna's 1.23.
McKenna had 6 points in 10 games; Kucherov had 130 in 76 games.
This week McKenna has 3 games left with 1 tough matchup; Kucherov has 3 left with 1 soft and 1 tough matchups. In ESPN default points scoring we project Kucherov for 7.6 to McKenna's 4.0 over the games left.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Nikita Kucherov rates ahead, +12.3 to -2.1 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: McKenna is rising, ixG/60 1.34 (was 0.55); Kucherov is cooling, 6 P in last 5 (1.50/GP before).
- • Gavin McKenna is an NHL rookie: this is his first season.
- • 2026-27 so far: 10 GP, 3 G, 3 A, 2 PPP, 18 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 8 GP, 3 G, 7 A, 3 PPP, 24 SOG.
Toronto Maple Leafs · Tampa Bay Lightning · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Gavin McKenna
-2.1
category z-score total
Nikita Kucherov
+12.3
category z-score total
Under Standard (6 categories), Nikita Kucherov has the edge (McKenna wins 0, Kucherov wins 6 of 6 categories).
| Category | McKenna | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.30 | 0.51 |
| Assists / game | 0.30 | 1.04 |
| Plus/minus / game | -0.50 | 0.41 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.20 | 0.45 |
| Shots on goal / game | 1.80 | 3.03 |
| Hits / game | 0.00 | 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 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
Gavin McKenna and Nikita Kucherov have no head-to-head events in our data yet (regular season and playoffs since 2019-20).
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
Oct 19 to Oct 25. 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
Gavin McKenna
4games (3 left)
4.0proj. ESPN default pts
- Mon, Oct 19 vs SJSOpp allows 5th-most FP to LWLikely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)
- Thu, Oct 22 vs NYR1.2 ptsOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Dylan Garand (.948)
- Sat, Oct 24 @ EDM1.3 pts
Nikita Kucherov
3games
7.6proj. ESPN default pts
- Tue, Oct 20 @ VGK2.2 ptsOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to RWvs Carter Hart (.891)
- Fri, Oct 23 @ COL2.3 ptsOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Mackenzie Blackwood (.903)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Gavin McKenna or Nikita Kucherov in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 2.79 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Gavin McKenna's 1.23. McKenna had 6 points in 10 games; Kucherov had 130 in 76 games. Check this week's games and your league's scoring in the fantasy panel above, since more games usually decide a weekly start.
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 →