Who to start · 2025-26
Nico Hischier vs Pavel Buchnevich
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nico Hischier projects to 1.93 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Buchnevich's 1.30.
Hischier had 66 points in 82 games; Buchnevich had 48 in 81 games.
This week Hischier has 1 game left; Buchnevich has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Hischier for 1.9 ESPN points to Buchnevich's 1.5.
Nico Hischier has the better number in 32 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Hischier's biggest edges: Draw Equity /100 +0.070, Faceoff win % 55.8%, Top skating speed 22.8.
Buchnevich's biggest edges: Goals above expected −0.4, On-ice PDO 1000, Luck Meter −16.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Nico Hischier
1.93
fantasy points per game
Pavel Buchnevich
1.30
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nico Hischier has the edge.
| Points per game from | Hischier | Buchnevich |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.64 | 0.46 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.43 | 0.32 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.13 | 0.08 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.39 | 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: Hischier 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.
Hischier 7G 12A, 69 SOG · Buchnevich 6G 14A, 40 SOG
Hischier's offensive zone 0–1 · neutral 0–1 · Hischier's defensive zone 3–0 (2021-22 to 2025-26)
Hischier blocked 1 of Buchnevich's shots; Buchnevich blocked 2 of Hischier's.
On the ice against each other (Hischier's side)
9:03 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Hischier's side
- Shot attempts
- 9–7
- 56.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.1
- 86.5%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Hischier | Buchnevich |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-28 | NJD 3–1 STL | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-11-26 | NJD 3–2 STL | 1G 2A 4S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-12-17 | NJD 4–1 STL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-11-27 | NJD 0–3 STL | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-03-07 | NJD 4–1 STL | 0G 2A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-02-16 | NJD 2–4 STL | 0G 0A 7S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2023-01-05 | NJD 3–5 STL | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 3A 0S |
| 2022-03-06 | NJD 3–2 STL | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-02-10 | NJD 7–4 STL | 2G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2021-04-18 | NJD 3–5 NYR | 1G 0A 7S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2021-04-17 | NJD 3–6 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 3G 0A 5S |
| 2021-04-15 | NJD 0–4 NYR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
Latest 12 of 22 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.
Nico Hischier
2games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs PHIOpp allows 7th-most FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Joseph Woll (.899)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NYI1.9 ptsOpp allows 15th-most FP to CSchedule edge −4.0 win%vs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
Pavel Buchnevich
2games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DALOpp allows 11th-most FP to LWLikely vs Jake Oettinger (.899)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ COLB2B1.5 ptsOpp allows 7th-most FP to LWSchedule edge −13.4 win%Likely vs Scott Wedgewood (.921)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Nico Hischier or Pavel Buchnevich in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nico Hischier projects to 1.93 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Buchnevich's 1.30. Hischier had 66 points in 82 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, Nico Hischier or Pavel Buchnevich?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nico Hischier leads in 32 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Hischier and Buchnevich done against each other?
- In 22 games against each other in our data, Hischier's team went 10–12. Hischier had 19 points (7 goals) and Buchnevich had 20 (6 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Hischier or Buchnevich?
- Against each other, Hischier has won 3 and Buchnevich 2 of their 5 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 →