Who to start · 2025-26
Nikita Kucherov vs Trevor Connelly
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 2.79 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Trevor Connelly's 1.59.
Kucherov had 130 points in 76 games; Connelly had 7 in 10 games.
This week Kucherov has 3 games left with 1 soft and 1 tough matchups; Connelly has 3 left with 1 tough matchup. In ESPN default points scoring we project Kucherov for 7.6 to Connelly's 3.3 over the games left.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Nikita Kucherov rates ahead, +12.3 to +2.3 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: Kucherov is cooling, 6 P in last 5 (1.50/GP before); Connelly is rising, +1:14 PP TOI.
- • 2026-27 so far: 8 GP, 3 G, 7 A, 3 PPP, 24 SOG.
- • Trevor Connelly is an NHL rookie: this is his first season.
- • 2026-27 so far: 10 GP, 4 G, 3 A, 3 PPP, 20 SOG.
Tampa Bay Lightning · Vegas Golden Knights · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Nikita Kucherov
+12.3
category z-score total
Trevor Connelly
+2.3
category z-score total
Under Standard (6 categories), Nikita Kucherov has the edge (Kucherov wins 5, Connelly wins 1 of 6 categories).
| Category | Kucherov | Connelly |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.51 | 0.40 |
| Assists / game | 1.04 | 0.30 |
| Plus/minus / game | 0.41 | -0.10 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.45 | 0.30 |
| Shots on goal / game | 3.03 | 2.00 |
| Hits / game | 0.35 | 0.40 |
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 Trevor Connelly 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
7.6proj. ESPN default pts
- Tue, Oct 20 @ VGK2.2 ptsOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to RWvs Carter Hart (.891)
- Fri, Oct 23 @ COL2.3 ptsOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Mackenzie Blackwood (.903)
Trevor Connelly
3games
3.3proj. ESPN default pts
- Tue, Oct 20 vs TBL0.9 ptsOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to LWvs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
- Thu, Oct 22 @ STL1.2 pts
- Sat, Oct 24 @ CBJ1.2 ptsOpp allows 15th-most FP to LWLikely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Nikita Kucherov or Trevor Connelly in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 2.79 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Trevor Connelly's 1.59. Kucherov had 130 points in 76 games; Connelly had 7 in 10 games. Check this week's games and your league's scoring in the fantasy panel above, since more games usually decide a weekly start.
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 →