Who to start · 2025-26
Nikita Kucherov vs Zachary Bolduc
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 2.79 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Zachary Bolduc's 1.39.
Kucherov had 130 points in 76 games; Bolduc had 30 in 78 games.
This week Kucherov has 2 games left with 1 soft matchup; Bolduc has 2 left with 1 soft and 1 tough matchups. In ESPN default points scoring we project Kucherov for 5.4 to Bolduc's 2.7 over the games left.
Nikita Kucherov has the better number in 27 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Kucherov's biggest edges: Goals above expected +3.9, Luck Meter +54, Plus/minus +43.
Bolduc's biggest edges: Ascension score 82, Hits 170, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.010.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Nikita Kucherov rates ahead, +12.3 to +1.2 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: Kucherov is steady, 63% of team PP time (was 72%); Bolduc is rising, 3 P in last 5 (0.35/GP before).
- • 2026-27 so far: 8 GP, 3 G, 7 A, 3 PPP, 24 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 9 GP, 4 G, 2 A, 2 PPP, 16 SOG.
Tampa Bay Lightning · Montreal Canadiens · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Nikita Kucherov
+12.3
category z-score total
Zachary Bolduc
+1.2
category z-score total
Under Standard (6 categories), Nikita Kucherov has the edge (Kucherov wins 5, Bolduc wins 1 of 6 categories).
| Category | Kucherov | Bolduc |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.51 | 0.26 |
| Assists / game | 1.04 | 0.23 |
| Plus/minus / game | 0.41 | 0.04 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.45 | 0.13 |
| Shots on goal / game | 3.03 | 1.48 |
| Hits / game | 0.35 | 1.90 |
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 Bolduc
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2024-25 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Kucherov 4G 10A, 46 SOG · Bolduc 1G 4A, 11 SOG
Kucherov blocked 0 of Bolduc's shots; Bolduc blocked 1 of Kucherov's.
On the ice against each other (Kucherov's side)
25:04 at 5-on-5 over 10 games, 2025-26, from Kucherov's side
- Shot attempts
- 30–17
- 63.8%
- Expected goals
- 1.8–0.7
- 73.0%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Kucherov | Bolduc |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-03 · PO | TBL 1–2 MTL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2026-05-01 · PO | TBL 1–0 MTL | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2026-04-29 · PO | TBL 2–3 MTL | 0G 0A 8S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2026-04-26 · PO | TBL 3–2 MTL | 0G 2A 3S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2026-04-24 · PO | TBL 2–3 MTL | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2026-04-21 · PO | TBL 3–2 MTL | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-04-19 · PO | TBL 3–4 MTL | 0G 2A 5S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2026-03-31 | TBL 1–4 MTL | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-12-28 | TBL 5–4 MTL | 2G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-12-09 | TBL 6–1 MTL | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-12-19 | TBL 3–1 STL | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-11-05 | TBL 2–3 STL | 0G 2A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
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)
Zachary Bolduc
3games (2 left)
2.7proj. ESPN default pts
- Tue, Oct 20 vs SJS
- Fri, Oct 23 @ CHI1.6 ptsOpp allows 7th-most FP to RWLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
- Sun, Oct 25 @ WPG1.2 ptsOpp allows 8th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Stuart Skinner (.888)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Nikita Kucherov or Zachary Bolduc 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 Zachary Bolduc's 1.39. Kucherov had 130 points in 76 games; Bolduc had 30 in 78 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 Zachary Bolduc?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nikita Kucherov leads in 27 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 Bolduc done against each other?
- In 12 games against each other in our data, Kucherov's team went 6–6. Kucherov had 14 points (4 goals) and Bolduc had 5 (1 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 →