Who to start · 2025-26
Lars Eller 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 Lars Eller's 0.81.
Eller had 15 points in 68 games; Kucherov had 130 in 77 games.
This week Eller has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Kucherov has 1 left. We project Kucherov for 2.8 ESPN points to Eller's 0.9.
Nikita Kucherov has the better number in 26 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Eller's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 332, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.031, Forecheck xG /60 0.52.
Kucherov's biggest edges: Ice-time share 33.5%, Ice time per game 20:04, Goals 44.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Lars Eller
0.81
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 | Eller | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.13 | 1.20 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.19 | 1.05 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.23 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.10 | 0.29 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.27 | 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: Eller 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.
Eller 6G 9A, 57 SOG · Kucherov 12G 22A, 92 SOG
Eller blocked 3 of Kucherov's shots; Kucherov blocked 0 of Eller's.
On the ice against each other (Eller's side)
4:16 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Eller's side
- Shot attempts
- 5–7
- 41.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.2
- 42.8%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Eller | Kucherov |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-07 | OTT 6–2 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-10-09 | OTT 5–4 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 2G 0A 4S |
| 2025-03-01 | WSH 1–3 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-11-27 | WSH 5–4 TBL | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2024-04-06 | PIT 5–4 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 3A 4S |
| 2023-12-06 | PIT 1–3 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2023-11-30 | PIT 4–2 TBL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 2A 8S |
| 2022-11-13 | WSH 3–6 TBL | 1G 0A 3S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2022-11-11 | WSH 5–1 TBL | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2022-04-06 | WSH 4–3 TBL | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2021-10-16 | WSH 1–2 TBL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2019-12-21 | WSH 3–1 TBL | 0G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 5S |
Latest 12 of 27 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.
Lars Eller
3games (1 left)
0.9proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ CAROpp allows 13th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ SJSOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ ANA0.9 ptsOpp allows 9th-most FP to CLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
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 Lars Eller 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 Lars Eller's 0.81. Eller had 15 points in 68 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, Lars Eller or Nikita Kucherov?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nikita Kucherov leads in 26 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Eller and Kucherov done against each other?
- In 27 games against each other in our data, Eller's team went 16–11. Eller had 15 points (6 goals) and Kucherov had 34 (12 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 →