Who to start · 2025-26
Adrian Kempe vs Evgeni Malkin
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Evgeni Malkin projects to 2.12 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Adrian Kempe's 2.01.
Kempe had 73 points in 81 games; Malkin had 61 in 56 games.
This week Kempe has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Malkin has 1 left. We project Kempe for 1.6 ESPN points to Malkin's 1.6.
Adrian Kempe has the better number in 20 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Kempe's biggest edges: Top skating speed 23.7, 20+ mph bursts 224, Transition attempts /60 1.93.
Malkin's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.37, Sequence xG 53.9%, Expected goals 53.5%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Adrian Kempe
2.01
fantasy points per game
Evgeni Malkin
2.12
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Evgeni Malkin has the edge.
| Points per game from | Kempe | Malkin |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.83 | 0.76 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.43 | 0.70 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.07 | 0.22 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.28 | 0.26 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.16 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.23 | 0.14 |
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: Kempe vs Malkin
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Kempe 10G 4A, 57 SOG · Malkin 5G 8A, 40 SOG
Kempe's offensive zone 2–0 · neutral 0–0 · Kempe's defensive zone 0–0 (2017-18)
Kempe blocked 1 of Malkin's shots; Malkin blocked 1 of Kempe's.
On the ice against each other (Kempe's side)
9:49 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Kempe's side
- Shot attempts
- 10–4
- 71.4%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.3
- 51.7%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Kempe | Malkin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-09 | LAK 3–2 PIT | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2025-10-16 | LAK 2–4 PIT | 0G 0A 5S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-01-20 | LAK 1–5 PIT | 1G 0A 6S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-12-17 | LAK 2–3 PIT | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2024-02-18 | LAK 2–1 PIT | 2G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2023-11-09 | LAK 3–4 PIT | 1G 0A 8S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2023-02-11 | LAK 6–0 PIT | 4G 0A 7S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-10-20 | LAK 1–6 PIT | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-01-30 | LAK 4–3 PIT | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2022-01-13 | LAK 6–2 PIT | 0G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2020-02-26 | LAK 2–1 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2019-01-12 | LAK 5–2 PIT | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 4S |
Latest 12 of 15 meetings.
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.
Adrian Kempe
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ COLOpp allows 10th-most FP to RWLikely vs Mackenzie Blackwood (.903)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ SJS1.6 ptsOpp allows 7th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge −3.2 win%vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)
Evgeni Malkin
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 7th-most FP to CLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL1.6 ptsOpp allows 14th-most FP to Cvs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Adrian Kempe or Evgeni Malkin in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Evgeni Malkin projects to 2.12 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Adrian Kempe's 2.01. Kempe had 73 points in 81 games; Malkin had 61 in 56 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, Adrian Kempe or Evgeni Malkin?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Adrian Kempe leads in 20 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Kempe and Malkin done against each other?
- In 15 games against each other in our data, Kempe's team went 7–8. Kempe had 14 points (10 goals) and Malkin had 13 (5 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Kempe or Malkin?
- Against each other, Kempe has won 2 and Malkin 0 of their 2 head-to-head draws.
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 →