Who to start · 2025-26
Nikita Kucherov vs Pierre-Olivier Joseph
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 2.87 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pierre-Olivier Joseph's 0.81.
Kucherov had 130 points in 76 games; Joseph had 6 in 31 games.
This week Kucherov has 2 games left with 1 soft matchup; Joseph has 2 left with 1 tough matchup. In ESPN default points scoring we project Kucherov for 5.7 to Joseph's 1.6 over the games left.
Nikita Kucherov has the better number in 31 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Kucherov's biggest edges: On-ice PDO 1046, Plus/minus +43, Ice time per game 20:20.
Joseph's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 0, Top skating speed 23.0, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.059.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Nikita Kucherov rates ahead, +13.3 to -5.8 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: Kucherov is steady, 63% of team PP time (was 72%); Joseph has no recent trend.
- • 2026-27 so far: 9 GP, 4 G, 9 A, 4 PPP, 26 SOG.
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Fantasy value: your scoring
Nikita Kucherov
+14.5
category z-score total
Pierre-Olivier Joseph
-5.8
category z-score total
Under Standard (6 categories), Nikita Kucherov has the edge (Kucherov wins 5, Joseph wins 1 of 6 categories).
| Category | Kucherov | Joseph |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.58 | 0.03 |
| Assists / game | 1.13 | 0.16 |
| Plus/minus / game | 0.57 | -0.52 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.49 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal / game | 3.04 | 0.71 |
| Hits / game | 0.47 | 0.58 |
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 Joseph
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2022-23 to 2024-25: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Kucherov 3G 10A, 22 SOG · Joseph 0G 1A, 9 SOG
Kucherov blocked 0 of Joseph's shots; Joseph blocked 1 of Kucherov's.
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Kucherov | Joseph |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-01-12 | TBL 5–2 PIT | 2G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-11-05 | TBL 2–3 STL | 0G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-04-06 | TBL 4–5 PIT | 0G 3A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-03-02 | TBL 4–5 PIT | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-02-26 | TBL 3–7 PIT | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-10-15 | TBL 2–6 PIT | 0G 2A 4S | 0G 1A 3S |
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
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 13th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Scott Wedgewood (.921)
Pierre-Olivier Joseph
3games (2 left)
1.6proj. ESPN default pts (season rate)
- Tue, Oct 20 @ VANOpp allows 3rd-most FP to DLikely vs Leevi Meriläinen (.860)
- Thu, Oct 22 @ EDM0.7 pts
- Sat, Oct 24 @ STL0.8 ptsOpp allows 14th-most FP to DLikely vs Joel Hofer (.910)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Nikita Kucherov or Pierre-Olivier Joseph 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 Pierre-Olivier Joseph's 0.81. Kucherov had 130 points in 76 games; Joseph had 6 in 31 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 Pierre-Olivier Joseph?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nikita Kucherov leads in 31 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Kucherov and Joseph done against each other?
- In 6 games against each other in our data, Kucherov's team went 1–5. Kucherov had 13 points (3 goals) and Joseph 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 →