Who to start · 2025-26
John Tavares vs Kirill Kaprizov
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Kirill Kaprizov projects to 2.50 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to John Tavares's 1.80.
Tavares had 71 points in 82 games; Kaprizov had 89 in 78 games.
This week Tavares has 1 game left; Kaprizov has 1 left. We project Kaprizov for 1.9 ESPN points to Tavares's 1.7.
Kirill Kaprizov has the better number in 24 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Tavares's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 801, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.027, Forecheck xG /60 0.34.
Kaprizov's biggest edges: Plus/minus +10, Scoring chances 52.7%, Transition attempts /60 1.30.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
John Tavares
1.80
fantasy points per game
Kirill Kaprizov
2.50
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Kirill Kaprizov has the edge.
| Points per game from | Tavares | Kaprizov |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.67 | 1.21 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.49 | 0.53 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.11 | 0.19 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.24 | 0.34 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.09 | 0.07 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.16 |
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: Tavares vs Kaprizov
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Tavares 1G 6A, 25 SOG · Kaprizov 1G 5A, 31 SOG
Tavares blocked 2 of Kaprizov's shots; Kaprizov blocked 0 of Tavares's.
On the ice against each other (Tavares's side)
7:28 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Tavares's side
- Shot attempts
- 7–7
- 50.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.3
- 41.9%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Tavares | Kaprizov |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-15 | TOR 4–2 MIN | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-01-19 | TOR 3–6 MIN | 1G 0A 6S | 0G 2A 5S |
| 2024-11-03 | TOR 1–2 MIN | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-11-19 | TOR 4–3 MIN | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2023-10-14 | TOR 7–4 MIN | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-02-24 | TOR 2–1 MIN | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-11-25 | TOR 4–3 MIN | 0G 2A 3S | 1G 1A 9S |
| 2022-02-24 | TOR 3–1 MIN | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2021-12-04 | TOR 3–4 MIN | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 1A 5S |
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 Tavares
3games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs MTLOpp allows 14th-most FP to CLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
- Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2BOpp allows 15th-most FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT1.7 ptsvs Linus Ullmark (.891)
Kirill Kaprizov
2games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NSHOpp allows 12th-most FP to LWLikely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs BOS1.9 ptsOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge +12.8 win%Likely vs Michael DiPietro (1.000)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start John Tavares or Kirill Kaprizov in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Kirill Kaprizov projects to 2.50 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to John Tavares's 1.80. Tavares had 71 points in 82 games; Kaprizov had 89 in 78 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 Tavares or Kirill Kaprizov?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Kirill Kaprizov leads in 24 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Tavares and Kaprizov done against each other?
- In 9 games against each other in our data, Tavares's team went 6–3. Tavares had 7 points (1 goals) and Kaprizov had 6 (1 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 →