Who to start · 2025-26
Pavel Buchnevich vs Quinton Byfield
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Quinton Byfield projects to 1.57 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Buchnevich's 1.30.
Buchnevich had 48 points in 81 games; Byfield had 49 in 79 games.
This week Buchnevich has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Byfield has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Buchnevich for 1.5 ESPN points to Byfield's 1.4.
Quinton Byfield has the better number in 26 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Buchnevich's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.31, Offensive-zone start % 53.1%, Offensive-zone time 42.9%.
Byfield's biggest edges: Top skating speed 23.2, Transition attempts /60 1.78, 20+ mph bursts 297.
Head to head on the dot, Byfield leads Buchnevich 7–3.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Pavel Buchnevich
1.30
fantasy points per game
Quinton Byfield
1.57
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Quinton Byfield has the edge.
| Points per game from | Buchnevich | Byfield |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.46 | 0.57 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.32 | 0.30 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.08 | 0.07 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.16 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.03 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.23 | 0.32 |
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 custom weights are saved in this browser only.
Head-to-head: Buchnevich vs Byfield
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2022-23 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Buchnevich 2G 4A, 23 SOG · Byfield 3G 1A, 23 SOG
Buchnevich's offensive zone 3–2 · neutral 0–4 · Buchnevich's defensive zone 0–1 (2024-25 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Buchnevich's side)
13:10 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Buchnevich's side
- Shot attempts
- 8–13
- 38.1%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.4
- 39.5%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Buchnevich | Byfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-01 | STL 1–2 LAK | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2026-01-24 | STL 4–5 LAK | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-10-21 | STL 1–2 LAK | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-03-08 | STL 1–2 LAK | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-03-05 | STL 3–2 LAK | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2025-03-01 | STL 4–1 LAK | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-03-13 | STL 3–1 LAK | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-11-18 | STL 1–5 LAK | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2023-03-26 | STL 6–7 LAK | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-03-04 | STL 2–4 LAK | 0G 1A 5S | 0G 1A 3S |
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
Sep 28 to Oct 4. 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 use ESPN default points for the games left.
Pavel Buchnevich
2games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DALOpp allows 11th-most FP to LWLikely vs Jake Oettinger (.899)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ COLB2B1.5 ptsOpp allows 7th-most FP to LWSchedule edge −13.4 win%Likely vs Scott Wedgewood (.921)
Quinton Byfield
2games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ COLOpp allows 10th-most FP to RWLikely vs Mackenzie Blackwood (.903)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ SJS1.4 ptsOpp allows 7th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge −3.2 win%Likely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Pavel Buchnevich or Quinton Byfield in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Quinton Byfield projects to 1.57 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Buchnevich's 1.30. Buchnevich had 48 points in 81 games; Byfield had 49 in 79 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, Pavel Buchnevich or Quinton Byfield?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Quinton Byfield leads in 26 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Buchnevich and Byfield done against each other?
- In 10 games against each other in our data, Buchnevich's team went 3–7. Buchnevich had 6 points (2 goals) and Byfield had 4 (3 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Buchnevich or Byfield?
- Against each other, Buchnevich has won 3 and Byfield 7 of their 10 head-to-head draws.
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 →