Who to start · 2025-26
Jake McCabe 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 Jake McCabe's 1.75.
McCabe had 25 points in 80 games; Kucherov had 130 in 77 games.
This week McCabe has 1 game left; Kucherov has 1 left. We project Kucherov for 2.5 ESPN points to McCabe's 1.7.
Nikita Kucherov has the better number in 26 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
McCabe's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 0, Hits 104, Blocked shots 190.
Kucherov's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 45.7%, Offensive-zone start % 67.3%, Corsi 56.2%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Jake McCabe
1.75
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 | McCabe | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.11 | 1.20 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.22 | 1.05 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.23 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.10 | 0.29 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.13 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 1.19 | 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: McCabe 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.
McCabe 0G 1A, 28 SOG · Kucherov 8G 27A, 84 SOG
McCabe blocked 10 of Kucherov's shots; Kucherov blocked 2 of McCabe's.
On the ice against each other (McCabe's side)
26:56 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from McCabe's side
- Shot attempts
- 17–33
- 34.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.9–2.0
- 31.7%
- Goals
- 0–3
Games against each other
| Date | Score | McCabe | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-07 | TOR 2–5 TBL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 4A 1S |
| 2026-02-25 | TOR 2–4 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 2A 2S |
| 2025-12-08 | TOR 2–0 TBL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-01-20 | TOR 5–3 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2024-10-21 | TOR 5–2 TBL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2024-04-03 | TOR 1–4 TBL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 3A 2S |
| 2023-10-21 | TOR 4–3 TBL | 0G 0A 3S | 2G 1A 6S |
| 2023-04-29 · PO | TOR 2–1 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-04-27 · PO | TOR 2–4 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2023-04-24 · PO | TOR 5–4 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2023-04-22 · PO | TOR 4–3 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 6S |
| 2023-04-20 · PO | TOR 7–2 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
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.
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.
Jake McCabe
3games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs MTLOpp allows 7th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
- Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2BOpp allows 12th-most FP to DSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT1.7 ptsLikely vs Linus Ullmark (.891)
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 Jake McCabe 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 Jake McCabe's 1.75. McCabe had 25 points in 80 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, Jake McCabe or Nikita Kucherov?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nikita Kucherov leads in 26 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have McCabe and Kucherov done against each other?
- In 25 games against each other in our data, McCabe's team went 10–15. McCabe had 1 points (0 goals) and Kucherov had 35 (8 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 →