Who to start · 2025-26
Jiri Kulich vs Josh Norris
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Josh Norris projects to 1.50 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Jiri Kulich's 1.26.
Kulich had 5 points in 12 games; Norris had 34 in 44 games.
This week Kulich has 2 games left with 1 soft and 1 tough matchups; Norris has 2 left with 1 soft and 1 tough matchups. In ESPN default points scoring we project Norris for 2.8 to Kulich's 2.5 over the games left.
Josh Norris has the better number in 3 of the 3 stats both are ranked on.
Norris's biggest edges: Draw Equity /100 +0.000, Faceoff win % 49.5%, Luck Meter +30.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Josh Norris rates ahead, +0.3 to -2.2 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: Kulich has no recent trend; Norris is falling, PP1 in 0 of last 5 (was 14 of 20).
- • Kulich has played 7 of the Sabres' 9 games since Oct 1 (in and out of the lineup).
- • 2026-27 so far: 7 GP, 1 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 8 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 9 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 12 SOG.
Buffalo Sabres · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Jiri Kulich
-2.2
category z-score total
Josh Norris
+0.3
category z-score total
Under Standard (6 categories), Josh Norris has the edge (Kulich wins 2, Norris wins 4 of 6 categories).
| Category | Kulich | Norris |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.22 | 0.27 |
| Assists / game | 0.20 | 0.34 |
| Plus/minus / game | -0.09 | -0.01 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.00 | 0.13 |
| Shots on goal / game | 1.50 | 1.48 |
| Hits / game | 0.83 | 0.76 |
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: Kulich vs Norris
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2026-27 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
On the ice together
10:47 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2026-27
- Shot attempts
- 10–12
- 45.5%
- Expected goals
- 1.1–0.6
- 63.7%
- Goals
- 1–1
Faceoffs: Kulich vs Norris
Model: Jiri Kulich wins 44.7% of draws against Josh Norris on average (L shot vs L shot). Same-handed, so the dot decides who is on his strong side; the gap between the left and right dots is the real matchup.
| Kulich at | OZ left | OZ right | NZ left (att.) | NZ right (att.) | Centre | NZ left (def.) | NZ right (def.) | DZ left | DZ right |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 49% | 39% | 51% | 40% | 45% | 51% | 40% | 52% | 41% |
| Road | 48% | 38% | 49% | 39% | 44% | 49% | 39% | 50% | 40% |
They have not faced each other on a draw in the seasons we track.
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
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
Jiri Kulich
2games
2.5proj. ESPN default pts
- Wed, Oct 21 vs PHI1.4 pts
- Sat, Oct 24 @ WSH1.1 ptsOpp allows 7th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Logan Thompson (.912)
Josh Norris
2games
2.8proj. ESPN default pts
- Wed, Oct 21 vs PHI1.6 pts
- Sat, Oct 24 @ WSH1.2 ptsOpp allows 7th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Logan Thompson (.912)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Jiri Kulich or Josh Norris in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Josh Norris projects to 1.50 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Jiri Kulich's 1.26. Kulich had 5 points in 12 games; Norris had 34 in 44 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, Jiri Kulich or Josh Norris?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Josh Norris leads in 3 of 3 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
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 →