Who to start · 2025-26
Jared McCann 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 Jared McCann's 1.95.
McCann had 40 points in 52 games; Kucherov had 130 in 77 games.
This week McCann has 2 games left with 1 soft matchup; Kucherov has 1 left. We project McCann for 3.9 ESPN points to Kucherov's 2.5.
Nikita Kucherov has the better number in 27 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
McCann's biggest edges: Ascension score 60, Net penalties drawn /60 +1.23, Faceoffs won 13.
Kucherov's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 50, Plus/minus +43, 20+ mph bursts 138.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 3 A, 1 PPP, 4 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Jared McCann
1.95
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 | McCann | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.72 | 1.20 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.55 | 1.05 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.15 | 0.23 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.24 | 0.29 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.23 | 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: McCann 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.
McCann 6G 2A, 47 SOG · Kucherov 12G 18A, 59 SOG
McCann's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 0–0 · McCann's defensive zone 1–0 (2018-19)
McCann blocked 2 of Kucherov's shots; Kucherov blocked 0 of McCann's.
On the ice against each other (McCann's side)
1:59 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from McCann's side
- Shot attempts
- 1–3
- 25.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.0–0.1
- 29.3%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | McCann | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-17 | SEA 2–6 TBL | 1G 0A 1S | 3G 2A 7S |
| 2025-02-23 | SEA 1–4 TBL | 0G 0A 5S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-12-14 | SEA 1–5 TBL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2023-12-09 | SEA 3–4 TBL | 1G 0A 1S | 2G 1A 5S |
| 2023-10-30 | SEA 4–3 TBL | 1G 1A 6S | 0G 0A 8S |
| 2023-01-16 | SEA 1–4 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2022-12-13 | SEA 2–6 TBL | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 3A 2S |
| 2022-03-16 | SEA 1–4 TBL | 0G 0A 5S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2020-02-11 | PIT 1–2 TBL | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2020-02-06 | PIT 2–4 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2019-10-23 | PIT 2–3 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2019-02-09 | PIT 4–5 TBL | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
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.
Jared McCann
3games (2 left)
3.9proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ CGYOpp allows 11th-most FP to LW
- Sat, Oct 3 @ EDM2.0 ptsOpp allows 3rd-most FP to LW
- Sun, Oct 4 vs CGYB2B1.9 ptsOpp allows 11th-most FP to LW
Nikita Kucherov
2games (1 left)
2.5proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 13th-most FP to RW
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH2.5 ptsSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Jared McCann 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 Jared McCann's 1.95. McCann had 40 points in 52 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, Jared McCann or Nikita Kucherov?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nikita Kucherov leads in 27 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have McCann and Kucherov done against each other?
- In 18 games against each other in our data, McCann's team went 2–16. McCann had 8 points (6 goals) and Kucherov had 30 (12 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, McCann or Kucherov?
- Against each other, McCann has won 1 and Kucherov 0 of their 1 head-to-head draws.
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 →