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Who to start · 2025-26

Leon Draisaitl vs Nikita Kucherov

Leon DraisaitlLeon DraisaitlOilers · CentrevsNikita KucherovNikita KucherovLightning · Right wing

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 3.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Leon Draisaitl's 2.96.

Draisaitl had 97 points in 65 games; Kucherov had 130 in 77 games.

This week Draisaitl has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Kucherov has 1 left. We project Kucherov for 2.8 ESPN points to Draisaitl's 2.0.

Nikita Kucherov has the better number in 23 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

Draisaitl's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 628, Ascension score 69, Top skating speed 23.3.

Kucherov's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.45, On-ice PDO 1046, Hardest shot 92.1.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 2 G, 2 A, 2 PPP, 10 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Leon Draisaitl

2.96

fantasy points per game

Nikita Kucherov

3.01

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Nikita Kucherov has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromDraisaitlKucherov
Goals (+2)1.191.20
Assists (+1)0.961.05
Power-play points (+0.5)0.340.23
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.010.01
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.310.29
Hits (+0.1)0.050.04
Blocks (+0.5)0.100.21

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: Draisaitl 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.

DraisaitlKucherov
5Team record in 13 meetings8
17Points in those games24

Draisaitl 8G 9A, 43 SOG · Kucherov 9G 15A, 64 SOG

1Faceoffs against each other0

Draisaitl's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 1–0 · Draisaitl's defensive zone 0–0 (2023-24)

0Shots blocked by the other1

Draisaitl blocked 0 of Kucherov's shots; Kucherov blocked 1 of Draisaitl's.

1Penalties drawn off the other1

On the ice against each other (Draisaitl's side)

4:22 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Draisaitl's side

Shot attempts
4–5
44.4%
Expected goals
0.1–0.2
38.0%
Goals
0–0

Games against each other

Games between Leon Draisaitl and Nikita Kucherov
DateScoreDraisaitlKucherov
2025-11-20EDM 1–2 TBL0G 1A 1S0G 1A 6S
2025-02-25EDM 1–4 TBL1G 0A 5S0G 2A 3S
2024-12-10EDM 2–1 TBL1G 1A 3S0G 1A 3S
2023-12-14EDM 4–7 TBL0G 0A 7S1G 2A 3S
2023-11-18EDM 4–6 TBL0G 0A 1S2G 1A 6S
2023-01-19EDM 5–3 TBL1G 1A 1S0G 1A 4S
2022-11-08EDM 3–2 TBL1G 0A 4S0G 1A 7S
2022-03-12EDM 4–1 TBL1G 1A 5S0G 0A 7S
2022-02-23EDM 3–5 TBL0G 3A 1S1G 1A 4S
2018-12-22EDM 3–6 TBL1G 0A 3S1G 4A 3S
2018-11-06EDM 2–5 TBL1G 0A 5S2G 1A 6S
2018-03-18EDM 1–3 TBL0G 0A 4S2G 0A 6S

Latest 12 of 13 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.

DraisaitlKucherov

Fantasy box score

Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

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.

Leon Draisaitl

3games (1 left)

2.0proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 vs VAN
    Opp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
  • Thu, Oct 1 @ VAN
    Opp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA2.0 pts
    Opp allows 6th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)

Nikita Kucherov

2games (1 left)

2.8proj. ESPN pts

  • Thu, Oct 1 @ NYR
    Opp allows 12th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH2.8 pts
    Opp allows 13th-most FP to RWSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Leon Draisaitl 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 Leon Draisaitl's 2.96. Draisaitl had 97 points in 65 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, Leon Draisaitl or Nikita Kucherov?
On 2025-26 numbers, Nikita Kucherov leads in 23 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
How have Draisaitl and Kucherov done against each other?
In 13 games against each other in our data, Draisaitl's team went 5–8. Draisaitl had 17 points (8 goals) and Kucherov had 24 (9 goals).
Who wins more faceoffs, Draisaitl or Kucherov?
Against each other, Draisaitl has won 1 and Kucherov 0 of their 1 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 →