Who to start · 2025-26
James van Riemsdyk 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 James van Riemsdyk's 1.07.
van Riemsdyk had 31 points in 72 games; Kucherov had 130 in 77 games.
This week van Riemsdyk has 1 game left; Kucherov has 1 left. We project Kucherov for 2.8 ESPN points to van Riemsdyk's 1.3.
Nikita Kucherov has the better number in 31 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
van Riemsdyk's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 6, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.14.
Kucherov's biggest edges: Plus/minus +43, Ice-time share 33.5%, Ice time per game 20:04.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
James van Riemsdyk
1.07
fantasy points per game
Nikita Kucherov
3.04
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nikita Kucherov has the edge.
| Points per game from | van Riemsdyk | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.42 | 1.14 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.22 | 1.12 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.08 | 0.24 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.14 | 0.30 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.02 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.19 | 0.19 |
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: van Riemsdyk 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.
van Riemsdyk 8G 6A, 32 SOG · Kucherov 10G 22A, 73 SOG
van Riemsdyk blocked 1 of Kucherov's shots; Kucherov blocked 0 of van Riemsdyk's.
On the ice against each other (van Riemsdyk's side)
6:52 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from van Riemsdyk's side
- Shot attempts
- 5–5
- 50.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.1
- 78.9%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | van Riemsdyk | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-13 | DET 3–4 TBL | 0G 1A 0S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2026-03-12 | DET 1–4 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2025-11-28 | DET 3–6 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 4S |
| 2025-03-04 | CBJ 2–6 TBL | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 2A 7S |
| 2024-12-17 | CBJ 3–5 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2024-11-21 | CBJ 7–6 TBL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 3A 6S |
| 2024-03-27 | BOS 1–3 TBL | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2024-02-13 | BOS 2–3 TBL | 1G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 6S |
| 2023-11-20 | BOS 4–5 TBL | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 7S |
| 2023-03-07 | PHI 2–5 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 2G 1A 4S |
| 2022-10-18 | PHI 3–2 TBL | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2020-02-15 | PHI 3–5 TBL | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 3S |
Latest 12 of 20 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.
James van Riemsdyk
2games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs NYROpp allows 7th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Dylan Garand (.948)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs WPG1.3 ptsOpp allows 14th-most FP to LWLikely vs Stuart Skinner (.888)
Nikita Kucherov
2games (1 left)
2.8proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 12th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH2.8 ptsOpp allows 13th-most FP to RWSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start James van Riemsdyk 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 James van Riemsdyk's 1.07. van Riemsdyk had 31 points in 72 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, James van Riemsdyk or Nikita Kucherov?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nikita Kucherov leads in 31 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have van Riemsdyk and Kucherov done against each other?
- In 20 games against each other in our data, van Riemsdyk's team went 3–17. van Riemsdyk had 14 points (8 goals) and Kucherov had 32 (10 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 →