Who to start · 2025-26
Nikita Kucherov vs Noah Laba
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 2.87 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Laba's 0.90.
Kucherov had 130 points in 76 games; Laba had 24 in 74 games.
This week Kucherov has 2 games left with 1 soft matchup; Laba has 2 left with 1 tough matchup. In ESPN default points scoring we project Kucherov for 5.7 to Laba's 1.8 over the games left.
Nikita Kucherov has the better number in 28 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Kucherov's biggest edges: Hardest shot 92.1, Fenwick 55.9%, Corsi 56.2%.
Laba's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 331, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.009, Hits 110.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Nikita Kucherov rates ahead, +13.3 to -2.2 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: Kucherov is steady, 63% of team PP time (was 72%); Laba is steady, ixG/60 0.44 (was 0.77).
- • Kucherov, 2026-27 so far: 9 GP, 4 G, 9 A, 4 PPP, 26 SOG.
- • Laba, 2026-27 so far: 11 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 9 SOG.
- • Laba, last 10 games (Oct 1–Oct 19): 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 9 SOG.
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Fantasy value: your scoring
Nikita Kucherov
+13.3
category z-score total
Noah Laba
-2.2
category z-score total
Under Standard (6 categories), Nikita Kucherov has the edge (Kucherov wins 5, Laba wins 1 of 6 categories).
| Category | Kucherov | Laba |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.53 | 0.07 |
| Assists / game | 1.08 | 0.19 |
| Plus/minus / game | 0.52 | 0.02 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.47 | 0.04 |
| Shots on goal / game | 2.98 | 0.92 |
| Hits / game | 0.34 | 1.74 |
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 scoring choice is shared with Who Should I Start: saved on this device, and on your account when you are signed in.
Head-to-head: Kucherov vs Laba
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2025-26 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Kucherov 1G 3A, 9 SOG · Laba 0G 1A, 3 SOG
Kucherov blocked 0 of Laba's shots; Laba blocked 1 of Kucherov's.
On the ice against each other (Kucherov's side)
22:55 at 5-on-5 over 5 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27, from Kucherov's side
- Shot attempts
- 32–17
- 65.3%
- Expected goals
- 1.6–0.7
- 69.8%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Kucherov | Laba |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-13 | TBL 1–4 NYR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-10-01 | TBL 1–5 NYR | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2026-04-15 | TBL 2–4 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-11-29 | TBL 4–1 NYR | 0G 3A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-11-12 | TBL 3–7 NYR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
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, Luck & trend, NHL EDGE tracking continue below
Every stat, side by side (continued)
Transition, turnovers & faceoffs
Usage
Special teams & discipline
This week's schedule
Oct 19 to Oct 25. 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 cover the games left: Edgehalla's rest-of-season rates per game, adjusted for each opponent's scoring allowed, in ESPN default points.
Scored in ESPN default points (G 2, A 1, PPP 0.5, SHP 0.5, SOG 0.1, HIT 0.1, BLK 0.5). Use your league's scoring
Nikita Kucherov
3games (2 left)
5.7proj. ESPN default pts
- Tue, Oct 20 @ VGKOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Carter Hart (.891)
- Fri, Oct 23 @ COL2.6 ptsOpp allows 14th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Scott Wedgewood (.921)
Noah Laba
3games (2 left)
1.8proj. ESPN default pts
- Mon, Oct 19 vs ANAOpp allows 11th-most FP to CLikely vs Ville Husso (.884)
- Thu, Oct 22 @ TOR0.9 ptsOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to Cvs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
- Sat, Oct 24 @ OTT0.9 ptsOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Samuel Ersson (.870)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Nikita Kucherov or Noah Laba in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 2.87 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Laba's 0.90. Kucherov had 130 points in 76 games; Laba had 24 in 74 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, Nikita Kucherov or Noah Laba?
- 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 Kucherov and Laba done against each other?
- In 5 games against each other in our data, Kucherov's team went 1–4. Kucherov had 4 points (1 goals) and Laba had 1 (0 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 →