Who to start · 2025-26
Vasily Podkolzin vs Zach Hyman
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Zach Hyman projects to 1.99 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Vasily Podkolzin's 1.91.
Podkolzin had 37 points in 82 games; Hyman had 52 in 58 games.
This week Podkolzin has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Hyman has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Hyman for 1.5 ESPN points to Podkolzin's 1.3.
Zach Hyman has the better number in 18 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Podkolzin's biggest edges: Hardest shot 91.1, Blocked shots 52, Ascension score 78.
Hyman's biggest edges: Power-play time per game 3:35, Transition attempts /60 1.55, Power-play share 87.7%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 3 G, 1 A, 3 PPP, 11 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Vasily Podkolzin
1.91
fantasy points per game
Zach Hyman
1.99
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Zach Hyman has the edge.
| Points per game from | Podkolzin | Hyman |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.76 | 1.00 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.25 | 0.34 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.10 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.21 | 0.28 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.30 | 0.10 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.28 | 0.15 |
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: Podkolzin vs Hyman
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Podkolzin 0G 0A, 6 SOG · Hyman 2G 2A, 20 SOG
Goals each scored with the other picking up an assist (as teammates).
On the ice together
78:12 at 5-on-5 over 24 games, 2025-26
- Shot attempts
- 75–75
- 50.0%
- Expected goals
- 4.1–3.4
- 54.4%
- Goals
- 8–4
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Podkolzin | Hyman |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-05-18 · PO | VAN 1–5 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2024-05-16 · PO | VAN 3–2 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-04-13 | VAN 3–1 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2022-10-12 | VAN 3–5 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2022-04-29 | VAN 2–3 EDM | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2021-10-30 | VAN 1–2 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2021-10-13 | VAN 2–3 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 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.
Vasily Podkolzin
3games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VANOpp allows 7th-most FP to RWLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 7th-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)
Zach Hyman
3games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VANOpp allows 5th-most FP to LWLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 5th-most FP to LWLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.5 ptsOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Vasily Podkolzin or Zach Hyman in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Zach Hyman projects to 1.99 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Vasily Podkolzin's 1.91. Podkolzin had 37 points in 82 games; Hyman had 52 in 58 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, Vasily Podkolzin or Zach Hyman?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Zach Hyman 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 Podkolzin and Hyman done against each other?
- In 7 games against each other in our data, Podkolzin's team went 2–5. Podkolzin had 0 points (0 goals) and Hyman had 4 (2 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 →