Who to start · 2025-26
Leon Draisaitl vs Pavel Buchnevich
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Leon Draisaitl projects to 2.96 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Buchnevich's 1.30.
Draisaitl had 97 points in 65 games; Buchnevich had 48 in 81 games.
This week Draisaitl has 1 game left; Buchnevich has 1 left. We project Draisaitl for 2.8 ESPN points to Buchnevich's 1.4.
Leon Draisaitl has the better number in 29 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Draisaitl's biggest edges: Faceoff win % 56.9%, Draw Equity /100 +0.077, Top skating speed 23.3.
Buchnevich's biggest edges: Blocked shots 40, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.022, Hardest shot 88.9.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 2 G, 2 A, 2 PPP, 10 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Leon Draisaitl
2.96
fantasy points per game
Pavel Buchnevich
1.30
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Leon Draisaitl has the edge.
| Points per game from | Draisaitl | Buchnevich |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.19 | 0.46 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.96 | 0.32 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.34 | 0.08 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.31 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.10 | 0.23 |
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 Buchnevich
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.
Draisaitl 8G 13A, 47 SOG · Buchnevich 5G 7A, 32 SOG
Draisaitl's offensive zone 1–1 · neutral 1–2 · Draisaitl's defensive zone 0–1 (2021-22 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Draisaitl's side)
11:19 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Draisaitl's side
- Shot attempts
- 10–9
- 52.6%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.2
- 57.2%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Draisaitl | Buchnevich |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-13 | EDM 2–3 STL | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-11-03 | EDM 2–3 STL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-02-04 | EDM 3–2 STL | 1G 1A 8S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-12-07 | EDM 4–2 STL | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2024-04-01 | EDM 2–3 STL | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-02-28 | EDM 3–2 STL | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-02-15 | EDM 3–6 STL | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2022-12-15 | EDM 3–4 STL | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2022-04-01 | EDM 6–5 STL | 0G 2A 7S | 2G 0A 6S |
| 2021-11-14 | EDM 5–4 STL | 1G 2A 3S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2019-12-31 | EDM 7–5 NYR | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2019-10-12 | EDM 4–1 NYR | 2G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 16 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.
Leon Draisaitl
3games (1 left)
2.8proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VAN
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VAN
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA2.8 pts
Pavel Buchnevich
2games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DAL
- Sat, Oct 3 @ COLB2B1.4 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Leon Draisaitl or Pavel Buchnevich in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Leon Draisaitl projects to 2.96 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Buchnevich's 1.30. Draisaitl had 97 points in 65 games; Buchnevich had 48 in 81 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 Pavel Buchnevich?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Leon Draisaitl leads in 29 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Draisaitl and Buchnevich done against each other?
- In 16 games against each other in our data, Draisaitl's team went 9–7. Draisaitl had 21 points (8 goals) and Buchnevich had 12 (5 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Draisaitl or Buchnevich?
- Against each other, Draisaitl has won 2 and Buchnevich 4 of their 6 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 →