Who to start · 2025-26
Adrian Kempe vs John Carlson
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, John Carlson projects to 2.10 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Adrian Kempe's 2.01.
Kempe had 73 points in 81 games; Carlson had 60 in 71 games.
This week Kempe has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Carlson has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Kempe for 1.6 ESPN points to Carlson's 1.6.
They split the 34 stats both are ranked on 17–17.
Kempe's biggest edges: Hits 127, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.023, 20+ mph bursts 224.
Carlson's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.32, High-danger chances 54.5%, Faceoffs won 0.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Adrian Kempe
2.01
fantasy points per game
John Carlson
2.10
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, John Carlson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Kempe | Carlson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.83 | 0.37 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.43 | 0.61 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.07 | 0.09 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.28 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.16 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.23 | 0.76 |
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 Carlson
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 3G 3A, 42 SOG · Carlson 5G 9A, 39 SOG
Kempe blocked 0 of Carlson's shots; Carlson blocked 3 of Kempe's.
On the ice against each other (Kempe's side)
12:03 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Kempe's side
- Shot attempts
- 12–9
- 57.1%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.5
- 50.1%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Kempe | Carlson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-02 | LAK 1–3 WSH | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-11-17 | LAK 1–2 WSH | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-03-13 | LAK 3–0 WSH | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-12-22 | LAK 1–3 WSH | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-01-07 | LAK 3–4 WSH | 1G 0A 4S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2023-11-29 | LAK 1–2 WSH | 0G 0A 7S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-10-22 | LAK 3–4 WSH | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 8S |
| 2021-12-19 | LAK 3–2 WSH | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2021-11-17 | LAK 0–2 WSH | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2020-02-04 | LAK 2–4 WSH | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 2A 2S |
| 2019-12-04 | LAK 1–3 WSH | 0G 0A 4S | 2G 0A 4S |
| 2019-02-18 | LAK 2–3 WSH | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 2A 3S |
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%Likely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)
John Carlson
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 9th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH1.6 ptsOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to DSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Adrian Kempe or John Carlson in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, John Carlson projects to 2.10 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Adrian Kempe's 2.01. Kempe had 73 points in 81 games; Carlson had 60 in 71 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 John Carlson?
- On 2025-26 numbers they split 17–17 across 34 stats where both qualify.
- How have Kempe and Carlson done against each other?
- In 15 games against each other in our data, Kempe's team went 4–11. Kempe had 6 points (3 goals) and Carlson had 14 (5 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 →