Who to start · 2025-26
Sean Walker vs Vasily Podkolzin
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Vasily Podkolzin projects to 1.91 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sean Walker's 1.62.
Walker had 31 points in 81 games; Podkolzin had 37 in 82 games.
This week Walker has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Podkolzin has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Walker for 1.9 ESPN points to Podkolzin's 1.3.
They split the 34 stats both are ranked on 17–17.
Walker's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 0.66, Faceoffs won 0, High-danger chances 57.2%.
Podkolzin's biggest edges: Ascension score 78, Luck Meter +28, On-ice PDO 1002.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 3 G, 1 A, 3 PPP, 11 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Sean Walker
1.62
fantasy points per game
Vasily Podkolzin
1.91
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Vasily Podkolzin has the edge.
| Points per game from | Walker | Podkolzin |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.20 | 0.76 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.24 | 0.25 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.10 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.21 | 0.21 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.30 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.77 | 0.28 |
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: Walker vs Podkolzin
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2023-24 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Walker 0G 1A, 11 SOG · Podkolzin 1G 0A, 4 SOG
Walker blocked 0 of Podkolzin's shots; Podkolzin blocked 1 of Walker's.
On the ice against each other (Walker's side)
10:59 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Walker's side
- Shot attempts
- 15–8
- 65.2%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.3
- 53.1%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Walker | Podkolzin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-06 | CAR 6–3 EDM | 0G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-11-15 | CAR 3–4 EDM | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-03-01 | CAR 1–3 EDM | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-10-22 | CAR 3–2 EDM | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-03-13 | COL 4–3 VAN | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 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.
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.
Sean Walker
3games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs FLAOpp allows 15th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Jacob Markstrom (.883)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs WSHOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Logan Thompson (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ PHIB2B1.9 ptsOpp allows 2nd-most FP to DSchedule edge −8.7 win%vs Joseph Woll (.899)
Vasily Podkolzin
3games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VANOpp allows 9th-most FP to RWLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 9th-most FP to RWLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.3 ptsOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Sean Walker or Vasily Podkolzin in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Vasily Podkolzin projects to 1.91 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sean Walker's 1.62. Walker had 31 points in 81 games; Podkolzin had 37 in 82 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, Sean Walker or Vasily Podkolzin?
- On 2025-26 numbers they split 17–17 across 34 stats where both qualify.
- How have Walker and Podkolzin done against each other?
- In 5 games against each other in our data, Walker's team went 3–2. Walker had 1 points (0 goals) and Podkolzin had 1 (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 →