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Who to start · 2025-26

Adrian Kempe vs Mika Zibanejad

Adrian KempeAdrian KempeKings · Right wingvsMika ZibanejadMika ZibanejadRangers · Centre

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mika Zibanejad projects to 2.27 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Adrian Kempe's 2.01.

Kempe had 73 points in 81 games; Zibanejad had 78 in 81 games.

This week Kempe has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Zibanejad has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Kempe for 1.6 ESPN points to Zibanejad's 1.4.

Mika Zibanejad has the better number in 20 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.

Kempe's biggest edges: Plus/minus +14, Penalty minutes 58, Transition attempts /60 1.93.

Zibanejad's biggest edges: Faceoff win % 52.5%, Draw Equity /100 +0.016, High-danger chances 53.8%.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 6 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Adrian Kempe

2.01

fantasy points per game

Mika Zibanejad

2.27

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Mika Zibanejad has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromKempeZibanejad
Goals (+2)0.830.81
Assists (+1)0.430.51
Power-play points (+0.5)0.070.21
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.010.01
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.280.25
Hits (+0.1)0.160.14
Blocks (+0.5)0.230.34

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 Zibanejad

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.

KempeZibanejad
9Team record in 14 meetings5
12Points in those games9

Kempe 6G 6A, 41 SOG · Zibanejad 4G 5A, 29 SOG

1Faceoffs against each other8

Kempe's offensive zone 1–3 · neutral 0–3 · Kempe's defensive zone 0–2 (2018-19 to 2025-26)

0Penalties drawn off the other1

On the ice against each other (Kempe's side)

7:15 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Kempe's side

Shot attempts
9–4
69.2%
Expected goals
0.2–0.1
72.3%
Goals
1–0

Games against each other

Games between Adrian Kempe and Mika Zibanejad
DateScoreKempeZibanejad
2026-01-20LAK 4–3 NYR1G 0A 4S0G 1A 0S
2025-03-25LAK 3–1 NYR0G 0A 1S0G 0A 0S
2024-12-14LAK 5–1 NYR1G 1A 6S0G 0A 3S
2024-01-20LAK 2–1 NYR0G 0A 2S0G 1A 1S
2023-12-10LAK 1–4 NYR0G 1A 2S1G 0A 3S
2023-02-26LAK 2–5 NYR0G 0A 4S1G 1A 1S
2022-11-22LAK 3–5 NYR0G 1A 2S0G 1A 1S
2022-01-24LAK 2–3 NYR0G 1A 1S0G 0A 4S
2022-01-10LAK 3–1 NYR1G 0A 4S1G 0A 2S
2020-02-09LAK 1–4 NYR0G 0A 5S0G 0A 2S
2019-12-10LAK 3–1 NYR1G 0A 4S0G 0A 2S
2019-02-04LAK 4–3 NYR2G 1A 3S1G 1A 4S

Latest 12 of 14 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.

KempeZibanejad

Fantasy box score

Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

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 @ COL
    Opp allows 10th-most FP to RWLikely vs Mackenzie Blackwood (.903)
  • Sat, Oct 3 @ SJS1.6 pts
    Opp allows 7th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge −3.2 win%Likely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)

Mika Zibanejad

4games (1 left)

1.4proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 @ BOS
    Opp allows 5th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
  • Thu, Oct 1 vs TBL
    Opp allows 11th-most FP to CLikely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
  • Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2B
    Opp allows 4th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs John Gibson (.901)
  • Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA1.4 pts
    Opp allows 2nd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Adrian Kempe or Mika Zibanejad in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mika Zibanejad projects to 2.27 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Adrian Kempe's 2.01. Kempe had 73 points in 81 games; Zibanejad had 78 in 81 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 Mika Zibanejad?
On 2025-26 numbers, Mika Zibanejad 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 Zibanejad done against each other?
In 14 games against each other in our data, Kempe's team went 9–5. Kempe had 12 points (6 goals) and Zibanejad had 9 (4 goals).
Who wins more faceoffs, Kempe or Zibanejad?
Against each other, Kempe has won 1 and Zibanejad 8 of their 9 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 →