Who to start · 2025-26
Aaron Ekblad vs Jordan Spence
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Aaron Ekblad projects to 1.37 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Jordan Spence's 1.16.
Ekblad had 26 points in 72 games; Spence had 31 in 73 games.
This week Ekblad has 3 games left with 2 soft and 1 tough matchups; Spence has 3 left with 1 soft matchup. In ESPN default points scoring we project Ekblad for 4.2 to Spence's 3.7 over the games left.
Jordan Spence has the better number in 20 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Ekblad's biggest edges: Ascension score 61, Penalty minutes 55, Blocked shots 103.
Spence's biggest edges: Plus/minus +15, Hardest shot 94.3, High-danger chances 62.0%.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Aaron Ekblad rates ahead, -0.2 to -0.5 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: Ekblad is steady, On-ice xGF/60 4.05 (was 2.64); Spence is falling, On-ice xGF/60 1.91 (was 3.38).
- • Ekblad has played 7 of the Panthers' 9 games since Sep 29 (in and out of the lineup).
- • 2026-27 so far: 7 GP, 0 G, 3 A, 1 PPP, 11 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 9 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 8 SOG.
Florida Panthers · Ottawa Senators · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Aaron Ekblad
-0.2
category z-score total
Jordan Spence
-0.5
category z-score total
Under Standard (6 categories), Aaron Ekblad has the edge (Ekblad wins 4, Spence wins 2 of 6 categories).
| Category | Ekblad | Spence |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.04 | 0.06 |
| Assists / game | 0.34 | 0.25 |
| Plus/minus / game | -0.27 | 0.09 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.09 | 0.03 |
| Shots on goal / game | 1.42 | 1.26 |
| Hits / game | 1.30 | 0.72 |
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 scoring choice is shared with Who Should I Start: saved on this device, and on your account when you are signed in.
Head-to-head: Ekblad vs Spence
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Ekblad 0G 3A, 8 SOG · Spence 1G 1A, 8 SOG
Ekblad blocked 0 of Spence's shots; Spence blocked 1 of Ekblad's.
On the ice against each other (Ekblad's side)
10:30 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Ekblad's side
- Shot attempts
- 10–7
- 58.8%
- Expected goals
- 0.8–0.3
- 73.8%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Ekblad | Spence |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-31 | FLA 6–3 OTT | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2026-01-10 | FLA 3–2 OTT | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-01-29 | FLA 3–0 LAK | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-01-11 | FLA 3–2 LAK | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-03-13 | FLA 2–3 LAK | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
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
Oct 19 to Oct 25. 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 cover the games left: Edgehalla's rest-of-season rates per game, adjusted for each opponent's scoring allowed, in ESPN default points.
Scored in ESPN default points (G 2, A 1, PPP 0.5, SHP 0.5, SOG 0.1, HIT 0.1, BLK 0.5). Use your league's scoring
Aaron Ekblad
3games
4.2proj. ESPN default pts
- Wed, Oct 21 @ OTT1.2 ptsOpp allows 8th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Linus Ullmark (.891)
- Sun, Oct 25 @ CHI1.5 ptsOpp allows 2nd-most FP to DLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
Jordan Spence
3games
3.7proj. ESPN default pts
- Wed, Oct 21 vs FLA1.2 ptsOpp allows 14th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Akira Schmid (.892)
- Sat, Oct 24 vs NYR1.2 ptsOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Dylan Garand (.948)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Aaron Ekblad or Jordan Spence in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Aaron Ekblad projects to 1.37 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Jordan Spence's 1.16. Ekblad had 26 points in 72 games; Spence had 31 in 73 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, Aaron Ekblad or Jordan Spence?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Jordan Spence leads in 20 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Ekblad and Spence done against each other?
- In 5 games against each other in our data, Ekblad's team went 4–1. Ekblad had 3 points (0 goals) and Spence had 2 (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 →