Who to start · 2025-26
Keegan Kolesar vs Nikita Kucherov
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 2.95 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Keegan Kolesar's 0.91.
Kolesar had 17 points in 82 games; Kucherov had 130 in 76 games.
This week Kolesar plays 3 games; Kucherov plays 3. We project Kucherov for 7.5 ESPN points to Kolesar's 3.0.
Nikita Kucherov has the better number in 28 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Kolesar's biggest edges: Hits 270, Faceoffs won 12, Blocked shots 43.
Kucherov's biggest edges: On-ice PDO 1046, Luck Meter +54, Plus/minus +43.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
Detroit Red Wings · Tampa Bay Lightning · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Keegan Kolesar
0.91
fantasy points per game
Nikita Kucherov
2.95
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nikita Kucherov has the edge.
| Points per game from | Kolesar | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.13 | 1.14 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.12 | 1.06 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.21 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.29 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.32 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.26 | 0.20 |
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: Kolesar vs Kucherov
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2022-23 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Kolesar 1G 3A, 4 SOG · Kucherov 8G 7A, 29 SOG
On the ice against each other (Kolesar's side)
2:19 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Kolesar's side
- Shot attempts
- 3–1
- 75.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.0
- 99.1%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Kolesar | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-06 | VGK 3–6 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 2G 1A 5S |
| 2025-10-26 | VGK 1–2 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-03-23 | VGK 4–2 TBL | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 6S |
| 2024-10-17 | VGK 3–4 TBL | 0G 0A 0S | 2G 0A 6S |
| 2024-03-19 | VGK 3–5 TBL | 0G 2A 1S | 1G 3A 2S |
| 2023-03-09 | VGK 4–3 TBL | 1G 0A 1S | 1G 2A 5S |
| 2023-02-18 | VGK 5–4 TBL | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 1A 3S |
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 5 to Oct 11. 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.
Keegan Kolesar
3games
3.0proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Oct 6 vs OTT1.0 ptsSchedule edge +11.6 win%Likely vs Linus Ullmark (.891)
- Fri, Oct 9 vs SEA1.0 ptsLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)
- Schedule edge −11.8 win%Likely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Nikita Kucherov
3games
7.5proj. ESPN pts
- Mon, Oct 5 vs PHI2.5 ptsSchedule edge +4.1 win%vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Thu, Oct 8 vs MIN2.5 ptsLikely vs Jesper Wallstedt (.916)
- Sat, Oct 10 @ NYI2.5 ptsLikely vs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Keegan Kolesar or Nikita Kucherov in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 2.95 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Keegan Kolesar's 0.91. Kolesar had 17 points in 82 games; Kucherov had 130 in 76 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, Keegan Kolesar 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 Kolesar and Kucherov done against each other?
- In 7 games against each other in our data, Kolesar's team went 3–4. Kolesar had 4 points (1 goals) and Kucherov had 15 (8 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 →