Who to start · 2025-26
Nikita Kucherov vs Patrick Kane
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 3.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Patrick Kane's 1.68.
Kucherov had 130 points in 77 games; Kane had 57 in 67 games.
This week Kucherov has 1 game left; Kane has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Kucherov for 2.8 ESPN points to Kane's 1.6.
Nikita Kucherov has the better number in 29 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Kucherov's biggest edges: Hardest shot 92.1, Goals above expected +3.9, Luck Meter +54.
Kane's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.37, Top skating speed 22.8, Faceoffs won 5.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Nikita Kucherov
3.01
fantasy points per game
Patrick Kane
1.68
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nikita Kucherov has the edge.
| Points per game from | Kucherov | Kane |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.20 | 0.54 |
| Assists (+1) | 1.05 | 0.54 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.23 | 0.13 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.29 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.21 | 0.19 |
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: Kucherov vs Kane
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.
Kucherov 4G 19A, 35 SOG · Kane 6G 6A, 53 SOG
On the ice against each other (Kucherov's side)
19:56 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Kucherov's side
- Shot attempts
- 24–17
- 58.5%
- Expected goals
- 1.5–1.2
- 56.3%
- Goals
- 3–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Kucherov | Kane |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-13 | TBL 4–3 DET | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2026-03-12 | TBL 4–1 DET | 0G 2A 3S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2025-11-28 | TBL 6–3 DET | 0G 2A 4S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-04-11 | TBL 3–4 DET | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2025-02-08 | TBL 6–3 DET | 0G 3A 1S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2025-01-18 | TBL 5–1 DET | 1G 2A 2S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2024-04-01 | TBL 2–4 DET | 0G 1A 4S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2023-01-03 | TBL 4–1 CHI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-04-01 | TBL 5–2 CHI | 0G 2A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2022-03-06 | TBL 6–3 CHI | 0G 1A 3S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2020-02-27 | TBL 2–5 CHI | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2018-11-23 | TBL 4–2 CHI | 0G 3A 1S | 0G 0A 5S |
Latest 12 of 15 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.
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)
Patrick Kane
3games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ VGKOpp allows 14th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Carter Hart (.891)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ UTAOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ BUF1.6 ptsOpp allows 3rd-most FP to RWSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.910)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Nikita Kucherov or Patrick Kane 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 Patrick Kane's 1.68. Kucherov had 130 points in 77 games; Kane had 57 in 67 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 Patrick Kane?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nikita Kucherov leads in 29 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 Kane done against each other?
- In 15 games against each other in our data, Kucherov's team went 12–3. Kucherov had 23 points (4 goals) and Kane had 12 (6 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 →