Who to start · 2025-26
Joel Eriksson Ek 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 Joel Eriksson Ek's 1.70.
Eriksson Ek had 51 points in 70 games; Kucherov had 130 in 77 games.
This week Eriksson Ek has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Kucherov has 1 left. We project Kucherov for 2.8 ESPN points to Eriksson Ek's 1.3.
Nikita Kucherov has the better number in 28 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Eriksson Ek's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 681, Hits 106, Ascension score 53.
Kucherov's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 67.3%, Goals above expected +3.9, Scoring chances 56.4%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Joel Eriksson Ek
1.70
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 | Eriksson Ek | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.51 | 1.20 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.43 | 1.05 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.11 | 0.23 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.28 | 0.29 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.15 | 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: Eriksson Ek 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.
Eriksson Ek 7G 2A, 42 SOG · Kucherov 6G 9A, 46 SOG
Eriksson Ek blocked 1 of Kucherov's shots; Kucherov blocked 0 of Eriksson Ek's.
On the ice against each other (Eriksson Ek's side)
14:23 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Eriksson Ek's side
- Shot attempts
- 7–19
- 26.9%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.9
- 35.4%
- Goals
- 2–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Eriksson Ek | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-24 | MIN 3–6 TBL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2026-03-03 | MIN 5–1 TBL | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2024-11-01 | MIN 5–3 TBL | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 8S |
| 2024-10-24 | MIN 4–2 TBL | 1G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2024-01-18 | MIN 3–7 TBL | 1G 0A 6S | 0G 3A 5S |
| 2024-01-04 | MIN 1–4 TBL | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-01-24 | MIN 2–4 TBL | 1G 1A 4S | 1G 1A 5S |
| 2023-01-04 | MIN 5–1 TBL | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2020-01-16 | MIN 3–2 TBL | 1G 0A 1S | 2G 0A 3S |
| 2019-12-05 | MIN 5–4 TBL | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2019-03-07 | MIN 3–0 TBL | 0G 0A 7S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2018-01-20 | MIN 5–2 TBL | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
Latest 12 of 13 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.
Joel Eriksson Ek
2games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NSHOpp allows 10th-most FP to CLikely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs BOS1.3 ptsOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +12.8 win%Likely vs Michael DiPietro (1.000)
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 Joel Eriksson Ek 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 Joel Eriksson Ek's 1.70. Eriksson Ek had 51 points in 70 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, Joel Eriksson Ek or Nikita Kucherov?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nikita Kucherov leads in 28 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Eriksson Ek and Kucherov done against each other?
- In 13 games against each other in our data, Eriksson Ek's team went 8–5. Eriksson Ek had 9 points (7 goals) and Kucherov had 15 (6 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 →