Who to start · 2025-26
Alex DeBrincat vs Nikolaj Ehlers
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Alex DeBrincat projects to 2.20 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Nikolaj Ehlers's 1.65.
DeBrincat had 85 points in 82 games; Ehlers had 71 in 82 games.
This week DeBrincat has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Ehlers has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project DeBrincat for 2.3 ESPN points to Ehlers's 1.8.
Nikolaj Ehlers has the better number in 17 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
DeBrincat's biggest edges: On-ice PDO 1010, Blocked shots 39, Ice-time share 30.5%.
Ehlers's biggest edges: Scoring chances 58.5%, Offensive-zone start % 67.3%, Goals above expected +3.6.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Alex DeBrincat
2.20
fantasy points per game
Nikolaj Ehlers
1.65
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Alex DeBrincat has the edge.
| Points per game from | DeBrincat | Ehlers |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.94 | 0.56 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.48 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.13 | 0.15 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.33 | 0.26 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.16 |
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: DeBrincat vs Ehlers
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.
DeBrincat 5G 8A, 44 SOG · Ehlers 11G 9A, 77 SOG
DeBrincat blocked 1 of Ehlers's shots; Ehlers blocked 0 of DeBrincat's.
On the ice against each other (DeBrincat's side)
4:12 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from DeBrincat's side
- Shot attempts
- 6–4
- 60.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.3
- 60.7%
- Goals
- 2–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | DeBrincat | Ehlers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-28 | DET 2–5 CAR | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2026-01-12 | DET 4–3 CAR | 1G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-12-27 | DET 2–5 CAR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-01-04 | DET 4–2 WPG | 1G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2024-10-30 | DET 2–6 WPG | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-12-20 | DET 2–5 WPG | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 1A 5S |
| 2023-10-26 | DET 1–4 WPG | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 6S |
| 2023-01-21 | OTT 1–5 WPG | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 2A 4S |
| 2022-03-20 | CHI 4–6 WPG | 0G 1A 4S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2021-11-05 | CHI 1–5 WPG | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2020-02-16 | CHI 2–3 WPG | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2020-02-09 | CHI 2–5 WPG | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
Latest 12 of 24 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.
Alex DeBrincat
2games (1 left)
2.3proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs NYROpp allows 12th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge +9.3 win%
- Sun, Oct 4 vs WPG2.3 ptsOpp allows 7th-most FP to RW
Nikolaj Ehlers
3games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs FLAOpp allows 13th-fewest FP to LW
- Fri, Oct 2 vs WSHOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to LW
- Sat, Oct 3 @ PHIB2B1.8 ptsOpp allows 4th-most FP to LWSchedule edge −9.3 win%
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Alex DeBrincat or Nikolaj Ehlers in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Alex DeBrincat projects to 2.20 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Nikolaj Ehlers's 1.65. DeBrincat had 85 points in 82 games; Ehlers had 71 in 82 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, Alex DeBrincat or Nikolaj Ehlers?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nikolaj Ehlers leads in 17 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have DeBrincat and Ehlers done against each other?
- In 24 games against each other in our data, DeBrincat's team went 7–17. DeBrincat had 13 points (5 goals) and Ehlers had 20 (11 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 →