Who to start · 2026-27
Jesperi Kotkaniemi vs Nikita Kucherov
In 2026-27, Nikita Kucherov scored 2.52 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Jesperi Kotkaniemi's 1.12.
Kotkaniemi had 5 points in 10 games; Kucherov had 13 in 9 games.
This week Kotkaniemi has 1 game left; Kucherov has 2 left with 1 soft matchup. In ESPN default points scoring we project Kucherov for 5.7 to Kotkaniemi's 0.9 over the games left.
Jesperi Kotkaniemi has the better number in 2 of the 2 stats both are ranked on.
Kotkaniemi's biggest edges: Ascension score 70, Luck Meter +69.
Role trend over the last 5 games: Kotkaniemi is surging, On-ice xGF/60 2.80 (was 1.98); Kucherov is steady, 63% of team PP time (was 72%).
- • Kotkaniemi, last 10 games (Oct 3–Oct 22): 2 G, 3 A, 0 PPP, 10 SOG.
- • Kucherov, last 9 games (Oct 1–Oct 20): 4 G, 9 A, 4 PPP, 26 SOG.
Carolina Hurricanes · Tampa Bay Lightning · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Jesperi Kotkaniemi
0.0
category z-score total
Nikita Kucherov
0.0
category z-score total
Dead even under Standard (6 categories) (Kotkaniemi wins 0, Kucherov wins 0 of 6 categories).
| Category | Kotkaniemi | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.20 | 0.44 |
| Assists / game | 0.30 | 1.00 |
| Plus/minus / game | 0.40 | 0.44 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.00 | 0.44 |
| Shots on goal / game | 1.00 | 2.89 |
| Hits / game | 1.20 | 0.11 |
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 scoring choice is shared with Who Should I Start: saved on this device, and on your account when you are signed in.
Head-to-head: Kotkaniemi vs Kucherov
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2018-19 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Kotkaniemi 2G 7A, 32 SOG · Kucherov 12G 19A, 56 SOG
Kotkaniemi blocked 1 of Kucherov's shots; Kucherov blocked 0 of Kotkaniemi's.
On the ice against each other (Kotkaniemi's side)
3:35 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Kotkaniemi's side
- Shot attempts
- 2–3
- 40.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.2
- 59.8%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Kotkaniemi | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-20 | CAR 4–6 TBL | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-03-11 | CAR 4–1 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-01-07 | CAR 2–3 TBL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2024-10-11 | CAR 1–4 TBL | 0G 0A 0S | 3G 1A 6S |
| 2023-11-24 | CAR 2–8 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 2G 4A 3S |
| 2023-10-24 | CAR 0–3 TBL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-03-28 | CAR 0–4 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2023-03-05 | CAR 6–0 TBL | 1G 4A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2022-11-03 | CAR 4–3 TBL | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2022-03-22 | CAR 3–2 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2021-07-02 · PO | MTL 3–6 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 6S |
| 2021-06-30 · PO | MTL 1–3 TBL | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 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, Luck & trend, NHL EDGE tracking continue below
Every stat, side by side (continued)
Transition, turnovers & faceoffs
Usage
Special teams & discipline
This week's schedule
Oct 19 to Oct 25. 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 cover the games left: Edgehalla's rest-of-season rates per game, adjusted for each opponent's scoring allowed, in ESPN default points.
Scored in ESPN default points (G 2, A 1, PPP 0.5, SHP 0.5, SOG 0.1, HIT 0.1, BLK 0.5). Use your league's scoring
Jesperi Kotkaniemi
3games (1 left)
0.9proj. ESPN default pts
- Tue, Oct 20 @ VANOpp allows 5th-most FP to CLikely vs Leevi Meriläinen (.917)
- Thu, Oct 22 @ EDMOpp allows 9th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Devon Levi (.887)
- Sat, Oct 24 @ STL0.9 ptsOpp allows 16th-most FP to CLikely vs Joel Hofer (.921)
Nikita Kucherov
3games (2 left)
5.7proj. ESPN default pts
- Tue, Oct 20 @ VGKOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Carter Hart (.888)
- Fri, Oct 23 @ COL2.6 ptsOpp allows 14th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Scott Wedgewood (.912)
FAQ
- Should I start Jesperi Kotkaniemi or Nikita Kucherov in fantasy hockey?
- In 2026-27, Nikita Kucherov scored 2.52 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Jesperi Kotkaniemi's 1.12. Kotkaniemi had 5 points in 10 games; Kucherov had 13 in 9 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, Jesperi Kotkaniemi or Nikita Kucherov?
- On 2026-27 numbers, Jesperi Kotkaniemi leads in 2 of 2 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Kotkaniemi and Kucherov done against each other?
- In 20 games against each other in our data, Kotkaniemi's team went 5–15. Kotkaniemi had 9 points (2 goals) and Kucherov had 31 (12 goals).
2026-27 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 →