Who to start · 2025-26
Nikita Kucherov vs Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 3.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins's 1.70.
Kucherov had 130 points in 77 games; Nugent-Hopkins had 56 in 72 games.
This week Kucherov has 1 game left; Nugent-Hopkins has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Kucherov for 2.5 ESPN points to Nugent-Hopkins's 1.1.
Nikita Kucherov has the better number in 25 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Kucherov's biggest edges: Plus/minus +43, On-ice PDO 1046, Luck Meter +49.
Nugent-Hopkins's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 172, Forecheck xG /60 0.34, Top skating speed 22.8.
- • 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
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
1.70
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nikita Kucherov has the edge.
| Points per game from | Kucherov | Nugent-Hopkins |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.14 | 0.56 |
| Assists (+1) | 1.12 | 0.50 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.24 | 0.20 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.30 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.19 | 0.22 |
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 Nugent-Hopkins
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 11G 16A, 52 SOG · Nugent-Hopkins 2G 8A, 30 SOG
Kucherov blocked 0 of Nugent-Hopkins's shots; Nugent-Hopkins blocked 1 of Kucherov's.
On the ice against each other (Kucherov's side)
5:47 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Kucherov's side
- Shot attempts
- 12–3
- 80.0%
- Expected goals
- 1.3–0.1
- 93.1%
- Goals
- 2–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Kucherov | Nugent-Hopkins |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-21 | TBL 5–2 EDM | 2G 2A 7S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-02-25 | TBL 4–1 EDM | 0G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-12-10 | TBL 1–2 EDM | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-12-14 | TBL 7–4 EDM | 1G 2A 3S | 1G 2A 6S |
| 2023-11-18 | TBL 6–4 EDM | 2G 1A 6S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2023-01-19 | TBL 3–5 EDM | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2022-11-08 | TBL 2–3 EDM | 0G 1A 7S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-02-23 | TBL 5–3 EDM | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2018-12-22 | TBL 6–3 EDM | 1G 4A 3S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2018-11-06 | TBL 5–2 EDM | 2G 1A 6S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2018-03-18 | TBL 3–1 EDM | 2G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 4S |
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)
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
3games (1 left)
1.1proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VANOpp allows 4th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 4th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.1 ptsOpp allows 6th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Nikita Kucherov or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins 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 Ryan Nugent-Hopkins's 1.70. Kucherov had 130 points in 77 games; Nugent-Hopkins had 56 in 72 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 Ryan Nugent-Hopkins?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nikita Kucherov leads in 25 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 Nugent-Hopkins done against each other?
- In 11 games against each other in our data, Kucherov's team went 8–3. Kucherov had 27 points (11 goals) and Nugent-Hopkins had 10 (2 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 →