Who to start · 2025-26
Nikita Kucherov vs Viggo Björck
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 2.87 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Viggo Björck's 0.14 (9 games so far).
Kucherov had 130 points in 76 games; Björck had 0 in 9 games.
This week Kucherov has 2 games left with 1 soft matchup; Björck has 2 left with 1 soft and 1 tough matchups. In ESPN default points scoring we project Kucherov for 5.7 to Björck's 1.6 over the games left.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Nikita Kucherov rates ahead, +13.3 to -7.9 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: Kucherov is steady, 63% of team PP time (was 72%); Björck has no recent trend.
- • Kucherov, 2026-27 so far: 9 GP, 4 G, 9 A, 4 PPP, 26 SOG.
- • Viggo Björck is an NHL rookie: this is his first season.
- • Björck, 2026-27 so far: 9 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 8 SOG.
Tampa Bay Lightning · Winnipeg Jets · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Nikita Kucherov
+13.3
category z-score total
Viggo Björck
-7.9
category z-score total
Under Standard (6 categories), Nikita Kucherov has the edge (Kucherov wins 5, Björck wins 1 of 6 categories).
| Category | Kucherov | Björck |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.53 | 0.00 |
| Assists / game | 1.08 | 0.00 |
| Plus/minus / game | 0.52 | -0.44 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.47 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal / game | 2.98 | 0.89 |
| Hits / game | 0.34 | 0.56 |
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 Viggo Björck 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, Luck & trend, NHL EDGE tracking continue below
Every stat, side by side (continued)
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 14th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Scott Wedgewood (.921)
Viggo Björck
3games (2 left)
1.6proj. ESPN default pts
- Tue, Oct 20 @ STLOpp allows 16th-most FP to CLikely vs Joel Hofer (.910)
- Thu, Oct 22 @ DAL0.7 ptsOpp allows 8th-fewest FP to Cvs Jake Oettinger (.899)
- Sun, Oct 25 vs MTL0.9 ptsOpp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Nikita Kucherov or Viggo Björck 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 Viggo Björck's 0.14 (9 games so far). Kucherov had 130 points in 76 games; Björck had 0 in 9 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 →