Who to start · 2025-26
John Tavares vs Vasily Podkolzin
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Vasily Podkolzin projects to 1.91 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to John Tavares's 1.80.
Tavares had 71 points in 82 games; Podkolzin had 37 in 82 games.
This week Tavares has 1 game left; Podkolzin has 1 left. We project Tavares for 1.8 ESPN points to Podkolzin's 1.5.
Vasily Podkolzin has the better number in 20 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Tavares's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 801, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.18, Power-play time per game 2:40.
Podkolzin's biggest edges: Plus/minus +16, Ascension score 78, Blocked shots 52.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 3 G, 1 A, 3 PPP, 11 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
John Tavares
1.80
fantasy points per game
Vasily Podkolzin
1.91
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Vasily Podkolzin has the edge.
| Points per game from | Tavares | Podkolzin |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.67 | 0.76 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.49 | 0.25 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.11 | 0.10 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.24 | 0.21 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.09 | 0.30 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.28 |
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 Podkolzin
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 3G 5A, 25 SOG · Podkolzin 2G 3A, 10 SOG
Tavares's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 0–1 · Tavares's defensive zone 0–1 (2024-25 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Tavares's side)
14:03 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Tavares's side
- Shot attempts
- 9–13
- 40.9%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.6
- 41.9%
- Goals
- 0–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Tavares | Podkolzin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-03 | TOR 5–2 EDM | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-12-13 | TOR 3–6 EDM | 0G 0A 2S | 2G 0A 4S |
| 2025-02-01 | TOR 4–3 EDM | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-11-16 | TOR 4–3 EDM | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-03-04 | TOR 1–4 VAN | 1G 0A 8S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-11-12 | TOR 3–2 VAN | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2022-03-05 | TOR 4–6 VAN | 1G 1A 6S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2022-02-12 | TOR 2–3 VAN | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
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)
1.8proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Tue, Sep 29 vs MTL
- Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2BSchedule edge −9.3 win%
- Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT1.8 pts
Vasily Podkolzin
3games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VAN
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VAN
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.5 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start John Tavares or Vasily Podkolzin in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Vasily Podkolzin projects to 1.91 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to John Tavares's 1.80. Tavares had 71 points in 82 games; Podkolzin had 37 in 82 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 Vasily Podkolzin?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Vasily Podkolzin leads in 20 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 Podkolzin done against each other?
- In 8 games against each other in our data, Tavares's team went 4–4. Tavares had 8 points (3 goals) and Podkolzin had 5 (2 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Tavares or Podkolzin?
- Against each other, Tavares has won 0 and Podkolzin 2 of their 2 head-to-head draws.
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 →