Who to start · 2025-26
Gavin McKenna vs Pavel Buchnevich
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Pavel Buchnevich projects to 1.39 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Gavin McKenna's 1.23.
McKenna had 6 points in 10 games; Buchnevich had 48 in 81 games.
This week McKenna has 3 games left with 1 tough matchup; Buchnevich has 3 left with 2 tough matchups. In ESPN default points scoring we project McKenna for 4.0 to Buchnevich's 3.5 over the games left.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Pavel Buchnevich rates ahead, +0.8 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); Buchnevich is surging, 5 P in last 5 (0.45/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.
- • Buchnevich has played 7 of the Blues' 8 games since Oct 2 (in and out of the lineup).
- • 2026-27 so far: 7 GP, 1 G, 4 A, 2 PPP, 9 SOG.
Toronto Maple Leafs · St. Louis Blues · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Gavin McKenna
-2.1
category z-score total
Pavel Buchnevich
+0.8
category z-score total
Under Standard (6 categories), Pavel Buchnevich has the edge (McKenna wins 2, Buchnevich wins 4 of 6 categories).
| Category | McKenna | Buchnevich |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.30 | 0.21 |
| Assists / game | 0.30 | 0.42 |
| Plus/minus / game | -0.50 | 0.01 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.20 | 0.21 |
| Shots on goal / game | 1.80 | 1.60 |
| Hits / game | 0.00 | 0.39 |
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 Pavel Buchnevich 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
Pavel Buchnevich
3games
3.5proj. ESPN default pts
- Tue, Oct 20 vs WPG1.3 ptsOpp allows 13th-fewest FP to LWvs Stuart Skinner (.888)
- Thu, Oct 22 vs VGK1.1 ptsOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Carter Hart (.891)
- Sat, Oct 24 vs CAR1.1 ptsOpp allows 8th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Pyotr Kochetkov (.899)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Gavin McKenna or Pavel Buchnevich in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Pavel Buchnevich projects to 1.39 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Gavin McKenna's 1.23. McKenna had 6 points in 10 games; Buchnevich had 48 in 81 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 →