Who to start · 2025-26
Jack Eichel 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 Jack Eichel's 2.65.
Eichel had 90 points in 74 games; Kucherov had 130 in 77 games.
This week Eichel has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Kucherov has 1 left. We project Eichel for 2.8 ESPN points to Kucherov's 2.5.
Nikita Kucherov has the better number in 19 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Eichel's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 558, Ascension score 62, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.42.
Kucherov's biggest edges: Goals above expected +1.7, Penalty minutes 50, Luck Meter +49.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 4 A, 2 PPP, 4 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Jack Eichel
2.65
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 | Eichel | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.76 | 1.20 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.99 | 1.05 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.23 | 0.23 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.33 | 0.29 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.27 | 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: Eichel vs Kucherov
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Eichel 3G 14A, 64 SOG · Kucherov 15G 16A, 69 SOG
Eichel blocked 1 of Kucherov's shots; Kucherov blocked 0 of Eichel's.
On the ice against each other (Eichel's side)
10:16 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Eichel's side
- Shot attempts
- 14–16
- 46.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.9
- 27.6%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Eichel | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-06 | VGK 3–6 TBL | 0G 2A 7S | 2G 1A 5S |
| 2025-10-26 | VGK 1–2 TBL | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-03-23 | VGK 4–2 TBL | 1G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 6S |
| 2024-10-17 | VGK 3–4 TBL | 0G 2A 1S | 2G 0A 6S |
| 2024-03-19 | VGK 3–5 TBL | 0G 1A 3S | 1G 3A 2S |
| 2023-12-21 | VGK 4–5 TBL | 0G 2A 7S | 1G 2A 5S |
| 2023-03-09 | VGK 4–3 TBL | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 2A 5S |
| 2023-02-18 | VGK 5–4 TBL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2019-12-31 | BUF 4–6 TBL | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2019-11-25 | BUF 2–5 TBL | 0G 1A 4S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2019-11-09 | BUF 3–5 TBL | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2019-11-08 | BUF 2–3 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 3S |
Latest 12 of 18 meetings.
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.
Jack Eichel
3games (1 left)
2.8proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs CHIOpp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs ANALikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ VAN2.8 ptsOpp allows 4th-most FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
Nikita Kucherov
2games (1 left)
2.5proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 13th-most FP to RWLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH2.5 ptsSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Jack Eichel 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 Jack Eichel's 2.65. Eichel had 90 points in 74 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, Jack Eichel or Nikita Kucherov?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nikita Kucherov 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 Eichel and Kucherov done against each other?
- In 18 games against each other in our data, Eichel's team went 4–14. Eichel had 17 points (3 goals) and Kucherov had 31 (15 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 →