Who to start · 2025-26
Nikita Kucherov vs Stephen Halliday
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 2.87 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Stephen Halliday's 1.07.
Kucherov had 130 points in 76 games; Halliday had 11 in 30 games.
This week Kucherov has 2 games left with 1 soft matchup; Halliday has 3 left with 1 soft and 1 tough matchups. In ESPN default points scoring we project Kucherov for 5.7 to Halliday's 3.1 over the games left.
Nikita Kucherov has the better number in 19 of the 22 stats both are ranked on.
Kucherov's biggest edges: Ice time per game 20:20, Ice-time share 33.5%, Shots on goal 231.
Halliday's biggest edges: Ascension score 59, Faceoffs won 26, Offensive-zone time 50.5%.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Nikita Kucherov rates ahead, +13.3 to -2.1 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: Kucherov is steady, 63% of team PP time (was 72%); Halliday is steady, +3:19 TOI a game.
- • 2026-27 so far: 9 GP, 4 G, 9 A, 4 PPP, 26 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 9 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 2 PPP, 12 SOG.
Tampa Bay Lightning · Ottawa Senators · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Nikita Kucherov
+13.3
category z-score total
Stephen Halliday
-2.1
category z-score total
Under Standard (6 categories), Nikita Kucherov has the edge (Kucherov wins 5, Halliday wins 1 of 6 categories).
| Category | Kucherov | Halliday |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.53 | 0.17 |
| Assists / game | 1.08 | 0.19 |
| Plus/minus / game | 0.52 | -0.13 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.47 | 0.15 |
| Shots on goal / game | 2.98 | 1.21 |
| Hits / game | 0.34 | 0.83 |
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
Nikita Kucherov and Stephen Halliday have no head-to-head events in our data yet (regular season and playoffs since 2019-20).
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)
Stephen Halliday
3games
3.1proj. ESPN default pts
- Wed, Oct 21 vs FLA1.0 ptsOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to Cvs Akira Schmid (.892)
- Sat, Oct 24 vs NYR0.9 ptsOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Dylan Garand (.948)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Nikita Kucherov or Stephen Halliday 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 Stephen Halliday's 1.07. Kucherov had 130 points in 76 games; Halliday had 11 in 30 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 Stephen Halliday?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nikita Kucherov leads in 19 of 22 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
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 →