Who to start · 2025-26
Jason Zucker 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 Jason Zucker's 1.71.
Zucker had 45 points in 62 games; Kucherov had 130 in 77 games.
This week Zucker has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Kucherov has 1 left. We project Kucherov for 2.8 ESPN points to Zucker's 1.5.
Nikita Kucherov has the better number in 28 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Zucker's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 48, Hits 57, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.25.
Kucherov's biggest edges: Hardest shot 92.1, Plus/minus +43, 20+ mph bursts 138.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Jason Zucker
1.71
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 | Zucker | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.77 | 1.14 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.34 | 1.12 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.13 | 0.24 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.21 | 0.30 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.09 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.17 | 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: Zucker 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.
Zucker 13G 5A, 52 SOG · Kucherov 11G 16A, 70 SOG
Zucker blocked 2 of Kucherov's shots; Kucherov blocked 0 of Zucker's.
On the ice against each other (Zucker's side)
17:46 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Zucker's side
- Shot attempts
- 18–20
- 47.4%
- Expected goals
- 1.1–0.8
- 58.4%
- Goals
- 2–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Zucker | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-06 | BUF 4–2 TBL | 1G 1A 4S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2026-03-08 | BUF 8–7 TBL | 2G 1A 6S | 2G 1A 5S |
| 2026-02-28 | BUF 6–2 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2026-02-03 | BUF 3–4 TBL | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 3A 7S |
| 2025-04-13 | BUF 4–7 TBL | 0G 0A 2S | 2G 1A 4S |
| 2025-04-05 | BUF 3–2 TBL | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2024-01-25 | ARI 3–6 TBL | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 2A 6S |
| 2023-11-28 | ARI 3–1 TBL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2023-03-02 | PIT 5–4 TBL | 2G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2023-02-26 | PIT 7–3 TBL | 1G 0A 6S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2022-10-15 | PIT 6–2 TBL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 2A 4S |
| 2021-10-12 | PIT 6–2 TBL | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
Latest 12 of 19 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.
Jason Zucker
2games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ CBJOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CHI1.5 ptsOpp allows 2nd-most FP to LWLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
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 Jason Zucker 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 Jason Zucker's 1.71. Zucker had 45 points in 62 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, Jason Zucker or Nikita Kucherov?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nikita Kucherov leads in 28 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Zucker and Kucherov done against each other?
- In 19 games against each other in our data, Zucker's team went 14–5. Zucker had 18 points (13 goals) and Kucherov had 27 (11 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 →