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Who to start · 2025-26

Jake DeBrusk vs Pavel Buchnevich

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jake DeBrusk projects to 1.42 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Buchnevich's 1.30.

DeBrusk had 42 points in 81 games; Buchnevich had 48 in 81 games.

This week DeBrusk has 2 games left; Buchnevich has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project DeBrusk for 2.7 ESPN points to Buchnevich's 1.5.

Pavel Buchnevich has the better number in 22 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

DeBrusk's biggest edges: Top skating speed 23.5, Transition attempts /60 1.79, 20+ mph bursts 168.

Buchnevich's biggest edges: Sequence xG 52.5%, Expected goals 52.5%, Goals above expected −0.4.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Jake DeBrusk

1.42

fantasy points per game

Pavel Buchnevich

1.30

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Jake DeBrusk has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromDeBruskBuchnevich
Goals (+2)0.500.46
Assists (+1)0.270.32
Power-play points (+0.5)0.130.08
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.000.00
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.260.16
Hits (+0.1)0.080.03
Blocks (+0.5)0.190.23

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: DeBrusk vs Buchnevich

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.

DeBruskBuchnevich
13Team record in 25 meetings12
12Points in those games20

DeBrusk 5G 7A, 61 SOG · Buchnevich 6G 14A, 54 SOG

0Shots blocked by the other1

DeBrusk blocked 0 of Buchnevich's shots; Buchnevich blocked 1 of DeBrusk's.

On the ice against each other (DeBrusk's side)

13:52 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from DeBrusk's side

Shot attempts
6–23
20.7%
Expected goals
0.1–0.9
14.2%
Goals
0–0

Games against each other

Games between Jake DeBrusk and Pavel Buchnevich
DateScoreDeBruskBuchnevich
2026-03-21VAN 1–3 STL0G 0A 0S1G 1A 1S
2025-10-30VAN 4–3 STL0G 0A 0S0G 0A 4S
2025-10-13VAN 2–5 STL0G 0A 2S0G 1A 2S
2025-03-20VAN 3–4 STL0G 0A 1S0G 0A 1S
2025-01-27VAN 5–2 STL0G 1A 0S0G 0A 2S
2024-12-10VAN 3–4 STL1G 0A 4S0G 1A 3S
2024-03-11BOS 1–5 STL0G 0A 7S0G 1A 3S
2024-01-13BOS 4–3 STL0G 0A 4S0G 0A 4S
2022-11-07BOS 3–1 STL1G 0A 3S0G 0A 4S
2022-04-19BOS 3–2 STL1G 1A 4S1G 1A 3S
2022-04-12BOS 2–4 STL0G 0A 2S0G 2A 2S
2021-05-08BOS 4–5 NYR0G 1A 4S0G 3A 4S

Latest 12 of 25 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.

DeBruskBuchnevich

Fantasy box score

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.

Jake DeBrusk

4games (2 left)

2.7proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 @ EDM
    Opp allows 3rd-most FP to LWLikely vs Tristan Jarry (.882)
  • Thu, Oct 1 vs EDM
    Opp allows 3rd-most FP to LWLikely vs Devon Levi (.682)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs CGY1.4 pts
    Opp allows 16th-most FP to LWSchedule edge −3.4 win%Likely vs Dustin Wolf (.899)
  • Sun, Oct 4 vs VGKB2B1.3 pts
    Opp allows 14th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Carter Hart (.891)

Pavel Buchnevich

2games (1 left)

1.5proj. ESPN pts

  • Fri, Oct 2 @ DAL
    Opp allows 11th-most FP to LWLikely vs Jake Oettinger (.899)
  • Sat, Oct 3 @ COLB2B1.5 pts
    Opp allows 7th-most FP to LWSchedule edge −13.4 win%Likely vs Scott Wedgewood (.921)

FAQ

Should I start Jake DeBrusk or Pavel Buchnevich in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jake DeBrusk projects to 1.42 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Buchnevich's 1.30. DeBrusk had 42 points in 81 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.
Who is better, Jake DeBrusk or Pavel Buchnevich?
On 2025-26 numbers, Pavel Buchnevich leads in 22 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
How have DeBrusk and Buchnevich done against each other?
In 25 games against each other in our data, DeBrusk's team went 13–12. DeBrusk had 12 points (5 goals) and Buchnevich had 20 (6 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 →