Who to start · 2025-26
Nikita Kucherov vs Rasmus Sandin
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 3.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Rasmus Sandin's 1.59.
Kucherov had 130 points in 77 games; Sandin had 29 in 73 games.
This week Kucherov has 1 game left; Sandin has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Kucherov for 2.5 ESPN points to Sandin's 1.7.
Nikita Kucherov has the better number in 30 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Kucherov's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 50, Offensive-zone time 45.7%, Corsi 56.2%.
Sandin's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 0, Hits 88, Blocked shots 127.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Nikita Kucherov
3.04
fantasy points per game
Rasmus Sandin
1.59
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nikita Kucherov has the edge.
| Points per game from | Kucherov | Sandin |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.14 | 0.14 |
| Assists (+1) | 1.12 | 0.33 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.24 | 0.01 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.30 | 0.12 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.12 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.19 | 0.87 |
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 Sandin
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2019-20 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Kucherov 5G 10A, 33 SOG · Sandin 1G 2A, 13 SOG
Kucherov blocked 0 of Sandin's shots; Sandin blocked 1 of Kucherov's.
On the ice against each other (Kucherov's side)
10:23 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Kucherov's side
- Shot attempts
- 7–6
- 53.8%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.2
- 70.8%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Kucherov | Sandin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-22 | TBL 5–3 WSH | 1G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-11-08 | TBL 3–2 WSH | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-10-14 | TBL 2–3 WSH | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-03-01 | TBL 3–1 WSH | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-11-27 | TBL 4–5 WSH | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-10-26 | TBL 3–0 WSH | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-02-22 | TBL 3–5 WSH | 0G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2023-12-23 | TBL 2–1 WSH | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-03-30 | TBL 5–1 WSH | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2022-12-20 | TBL 1–4 TOR | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2022-12-03 | TBL 4–3 TOR | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2020-03-10 | TBL 1–2 TOR | 0G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 1S |
Latest 12 of 14 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)
2.5proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 13th-most FP to RWLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH2.5 ptsSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)
Rasmus Sandin
2games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ CAROpp allows 10th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TBLB2B1.7 ptsOpp allows 7th-most FP to DSchedule edge −13.3 win%Likely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Nikita Kucherov or Rasmus Sandin 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 Rasmus Sandin's 1.59. Kucherov had 130 points in 77 games; Sandin had 29 in 73 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 Rasmus Sandin?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nikita Kucherov leads in 30 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 Sandin done against each other?
- In 14 games against each other in our data, Kucherov's team went 8–6. Kucherov had 15 points (5 goals) and Sandin had 3 (1 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 →