Who to start · 2025-26
Nikita Kucherov vs Valeri Nichushkin
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 2.79 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Valeri Nichushkin's 1.41.
Kucherov had 130 points in 76 games; Nichushkin had 49 in 72 games.
This week Kucherov has 2 games left with 1 soft matchup; Nichushkin has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. In ESPN default points scoring we project Kucherov for 5.4 to Nichushkin's 1.3 over the games left.
Nikita Kucherov has the better number in 19 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Kucherov's biggest edges: Goals above expected +3.9, Luck Meter +54, Power-play points 37.
Nichushkin's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.024, Top skating speed 23.5, Forecheck xG /60 0.49.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Nikita Kucherov rates ahead, +12.3 to +0.8 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: Kucherov is steady, 63% of team PP time (was 72%); Nichushkin is steady, −1:46 5v5 TOI.
- • 2026-27 so far: 8 GP, 3 G, 7 A, 3 PPP, 24 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 8 GP, 1 G, 3 A, 1 PPP, 10 SOG.
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Fantasy value: your scoring
Nikita Kucherov
+12.3
category z-score total
Valeri Nichushkin
+0.8
category z-score total
Under Standard (6 categories), Nikita Kucherov has the edge (Kucherov wins 5, Nichushkin wins 1 of 6 categories).
| Category | Kucherov | Nichushkin |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.51 | 0.20 |
| Assists / game | 1.04 | 0.42 |
| Plus/minus / game | 0.41 | -0.01 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.45 | 0.08 |
| Shots on goal / game | 3.03 | 1.88 |
| Hits / game | 0.35 | 1.11 |
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 Nichushkin
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2018-19 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Kucherov 7G 12A, 55 SOG · Nichushkin 7G 4A, 51 SOG
On the ice against each other (Kucherov's side)
8:08 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Kucherov's side
- Shot attempts
- 7–6
- 53.8%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.1
- 91.0%
- Goals
- 2–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Kucherov | Nichushkin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-06 | TBL 4–2 COL | 0G 2A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-11-04 | TBL 2–3 COL | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-11-25 | TBL 8–2 COL | 1G 2A 4S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-11-27 | TBL 1–4 COL | 0G 1A 6S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2023-02-14 | TBL 4–3 COL | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2023-02-09 | TBL 5–0 COL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2022-06-26 · PO | TBL 1–2 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2022-06-24 · PO | TBL 3–2 COL | 1G 0A 6S | 1G 1A 5S |
| 2022-06-22 · PO | TBL 2–3 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2022-06-20 · PO | TBL 6–2 COL | 0G 2A 6S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-06-18 · PO | TBL 0–7 COL | 0G 0A 0S | 2G 0A 5S |
| 2022-06-15 · PO | TBL 3–4 COL | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 1A 6S |
Latest 12 of 16 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
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)
5.4proj. ESPN default pts
- Tue, Oct 20 @ VGKOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Carter Hart (.891)
- Fri, Oct 23 @ COL2.3 ptsOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Mackenzie Blackwood (.903)
Valeri Nichushkin
2games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN default pts
- Tue, Oct 20 vs TOR
- Sat, Oct 24 vs VGK1.3 ptsOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Carter Hart (.891)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Nikita Kucherov or Valeri Nichushkin 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 Valeri Nichushkin's 1.41. Kucherov had 130 points in 76 games; Nichushkin had 49 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 Valeri Nichushkin?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nikita Kucherov leads in 19 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Kucherov and Nichushkin done against each other?
- In 16 games against each other in our data, Kucherov's team went 9–7. Kucherov had 19 points (7 goals) and Nichushkin had 11 (7 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 →