Brady Tkachuk or Brandon Hagel? Week 3
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Brandon Hagel, narrowly. Both count 2 games left in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), so it comes down to value per game: 2.6 fantasy points to 2.5. Who to start in fantasy hockey in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), LWs ranked 5th and 6th at the position.
The Week 3 call
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Brandon Hagel, narrowly. Both count 2 games left in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), so it comes down to value per game: 2.6 fantasy points to 2.5.
Categories leagues: Brady Tkachuk instead, 7.9 category value for the week to 7.3, because his category mix is worth more there.
Over FLA's last 5 games Brady Tkachuk played 5 games, 16:44 a night with 5:13 on the power play: line 3 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit.
Over TBL's last 5 games Brandon Hagel played 5 games, 21:32 a night with 4:41 on the power play: line 2 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit.
FLA has a back-to-back in Week 3.
This is the call for one lineup slot across the week, the way weekly-lock leagues play it. In a daily-lineup league, start whichever of the two plays that night, and both when they fit.
Week 3 (Oct 12-18), side by side
| This week | Brady Tkachuk | Brandon Hagel |
|---|---|---|
| Games, Week 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Games counted (left this week) | 2 | 2 |
| Back-to-backs | 1 | 0 |
| Games, Week 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Line by ice time | Line 3 | Line 2 |
| Power-play unit | PP1 | PP1 |
| TOI, last games | 16:44 (5) | 21:32 (5) |
| TOI, board | 17:00 | 20:15 |
| PP TOI, last games | 5:13 | 4:41 |
| Shots, last games | 2.8 | 4.8 |
| Injury | None listed | None listed |
| Projected fantasy points | 5.1 | 5.2 |
| Projected category value | 7.9 | 7.3 |
Schedule: Brady Tkachuk Mon @BUF, Tue @CBJ, Thu VAN, Sat SEA. Brandon Hagel Tue @NYR, Thu SEA, Sat VAN.
Projections are the board's per-game value times the games counted. A skater listed out, or who missed his team's last three games, counts none. A goalie counts his team's games times his share of its recent starts. Lines and power-play units are by ice time over the team's last five games. Stats and schedule from the NHL; injury designations from ESPN's public NHL injury list.
Advertisement
The rest-of-season call
Season-long, points leagues: Brandon Hagel, 2.61 fantasy points per game to 2.54.
Categories leagues: Brady Tkachuk instead, 23rd overall against 27th, because the categories reward a different mix.
| Category (z per game) | Brady Tkachuk | Brandon Hagel |
|---|---|---|
| A assists | 0.2 | 0.3 |
| G goals | 0.6 | 1.7 |
| +/- plus-minus | -1.0 | 1.3 |
| BLK blocked shots | -1.0 | -0.2 |
| HIT hits | 2.4 | -0.5 |
| PPP power-play points | 1.1 | -0.6 |
| SOG shots on goal | 1.7 | 1.6 |
Other close calls
Week 3 streamers and goalie starts · NHL waiver wire · Rest-of-season rankings
Common questions
Should I start Brady Tkachuk or Brandon Hagel in Week 3?
Points leagues, Week 3 (Oct 12-18): start Brandon Hagel, narrowly. Both count 2 games left in Week 3 (Oct 12-18), so it comes down to value per game: 2.6 fantasy points to 2.5. Categories leagues: Brady Tkachuk instead, 7.9 category value for the week to 7.3, because his category mix is worth more there. Over FLA's last 5 games Brady Tkachuk played 5 games, 16:44 a night with 5:13 on the power play: line 3 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit. Over TBL's last 5 games Brandon Hagel played 5 games, 21:32 a night with 4:41 on the power play: line 2 by even-strength ice time and the first power-play unit. FLA has a back-to-back in Week 3.
Who is better for the rest of the season, Brady Tkachuk or Brandon Hagel?
Season-long, points leagues: Brandon Hagel, 2.61 fantasy points per game to 2.54. Categories leagues: Brady Tkachuk instead, 23rd overall against 27th, because the categories reward a different mix.
Who wins more categories, Brady Tkachuk or Brandon Hagel?
Brady Tkachuk is ahead per game in 3 (hits, power-play points, shots on goal); Brandon Hagel in 4 (assists, goals, plus-minus, blocked shots).
By the Parlae deskBoard updated Oct 13, 2026 at 10:41 PM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number