Who to start · 2025-26
John Klingberg 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 John Klingberg's 1.52.
Klingberg had 27 points in 56 games; Kucherov had 130 in 77 games.
This week Klingberg has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Kucherov has 1 left. We project Kucherov for 2.8 ESPN points to Klingberg's 1.8.
Nikita Kucherov has the better number in 26 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Klingberg's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 0, Hits 46, Goals above expected +4.2.
Kucherov's biggest edges: Plus/minus +43, 20+ mph bursts 138, Fenwick 55.9%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
John Klingberg
1.52
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 | Klingberg | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.36 | 1.14 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.30 | 1.12 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.08 | 0.24 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.14 | 0.30 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.55 | 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: Klingberg 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.
Klingberg 0G 3A, 17 SOG · Kucherov 7G 16A, 35 SOG
On the ice against each other (Klingberg's side)
5:23 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Klingberg's side
- Shot attempts
- 2–4
- 33.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.0–0.2
- 14.7%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Klingberg | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-20 | SJS 1–4 TBL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 3A 0S |
| 2023-11-06 | TOR 6–5 TBL | 0G 0A 2S | 2G 2A 5S |
| 2023-10-21 | TOR 4–3 TBL | 0G 1A 2S | 2G 1A 6S |
| 2022-10-26 | ANA 2–4 TBL | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2022-04-12 | DAL 1–0 TBL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-01-15 | DAL 1–3 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 4S |
| 2020-01-27 | DAL 3–2 TBL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 2A 4S |
| 2019-12-19 | DAL 4–3 TBL | 0G 2A 0S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2019-02-14 | DAL 0–6 TBL | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 3A 4S |
| 2019-01-15 | DAL 0–2 TBL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2017-11-16 | DAL 1–6 TBL | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 2A 1S |
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.
John Klingberg
2games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs FLAOpp allows 15th-fewest FP to D
- Sat, Oct 3 vs LAK1.8 ptsOpp allows 3rd-most FP to D
Nikita Kucherov
2games (1 left)
2.8proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 12th-fewest FP to RW
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH2.8 ptsOpp allows 13th-most FP to RWSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start John Klingberg 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 John Klingberg's 1.52. Klingberg had 27 points in 56 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, John Klingberg or Nikita Kucherov?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nikita Kucherov leads in 26 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Klingberg and Kucherov done against each other?
- In 11 games against each other in our data, Klingberg's team went 5–6. Klingberg had 3 points (0 goals) and Kucherov had 23 (7 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 →