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Who to start · 2025-26

Pavel Buchnevich vs Ryan Leonard

Pavel BuchnevichPavel BuchnevichBlues · Left wingvsRyan LeonardRyan LeonardCapitals · Right wing

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Ryan Leonard projects to 1.59 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Buchnevich's 1.30.

Buchnevich had 48 points in 81 games; Leonard had 45 in 75 games.

This week Buchnevich has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Leonard has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Leonard for 1.8 ESPN points to Buchnevich's 1.5.

Pavel Buchnevich has the better number in 18 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

Buchnevich's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.31, Scoring chances 50.7%, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.022.

Leonard's biggest edges: Top skating speed 24.3, Transition attempts /60 1.71, Hits 124.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Pavel Buchnevich

1.30

fantasy points per game

Ryan Leonard

1.59

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Ryan Leonard has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromBuchnevichLeonard
Goals (+2)0.460.63
Assists (+1)0.320.31
Power-play points (+0.5)0.080.09
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.000.00
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.160.21
Hits (+0.1)0.030.17
Blocks (+0.5)0.230.19

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 Leonard

Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2025-26 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.

BuchnevichLeonard
1Team record in 2 meetings1
0Points in those games1

Buchnevich 0G 0A, 1 SOG · Leonard 0G 1A, 1 SOG

On the ice against each other (Buchnevich's side)

6:37 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Buchnevich's side

Shot attempts
7–6
53.8%
Expected goals
0.0–0.3
14.7%
Goals
0–0

Games against each other

Games between Pavel Buchnevich and Ryan Leonard
DateScoreBuchnevichLeonard
2026-03-24STL 3–0 WSH0G 0A 0S0G 0A 0S
2025-11-05STL 1–6 WSH0G 0A 1S0G 1A 1S

Every stat, side by side

Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.

BuchnevichLeonard

Fantasy box score

Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

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 @ DAL
    Opp allows 11th-most FP to LWLikely vs Jake Oettinger (.899)
  • Sat, Oct 3 @ COLB2B1.5 pts
    Opp allows 7th-most FP to LWSchedule edge −13.4 win%Likely vs Scott Wedgewood (.921)

Ryan Leonard

2games (1 left)

1.8proj. ESPN pts

  • Fri, Oct 2 @ CAR
    Opp allows 11th-most FP to RWLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
  • Sat, Oct 3 @ TBLB2B1.8 pts
    Opp allows the most FP to RWSchedule edge −13.3 win%vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Pavel Buchnevich or Ryan Leonard in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Ryan Leonard projects to 1.59 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Buchnevich's 1.30. Buchnevich had 48 points in 81 games; Leonard had 45 in 75 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 Ryan Leonard?
On 2025-26 numbers, Pavel Buchnevich leads in 18 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
How have Buchnevich and Leonard done against each other?
In 2 games against each other in our data, Buchnevich's team went 1–1. Buchnevich had 0 points (0 goals) and Leonard had 1 (0 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 →