Who to start · 2025-26
Alex DeBrincat vs William Eklund
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Alex DeBrincat projects to 2.20 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to William Eklund's 1.62.
DeBrincat had 85 points in 82 games; Eklund had 53 in 78 games.
This week DeBrincat has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Eklund has 1 left. We project DeBrincat for 2.3 ESPN points to Eklund's 1.2.
Alex DeBrincat has the better number in 22 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
DeBrincat's biggest edges: Plus/minus +8, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.060, Forecheck xG /60 0.34.
Eklund's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 32, Hits 72, High-danger chances 52.0%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Alex DeBrincat
2.31
fantasy points per game
William Eklund
1.62
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Alex DeBrincat has the edge.
| Points per game from | DeBrincat | Eklund |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.00 | 0.38 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.54 | 0.49 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.14 | 0.10 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.35 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.09 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.24 | 0.33 |
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 Eklund
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2023-24 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
DeBrincat 2G 0A, 13 SOG · Eklund 3G 3A, 15 SOG
DeBrincat blocked 0 of Eklund's shots; Eklund blocked 1 of DeBrincat's.
On the ice against each other (DeBrincat's side)
2:33 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from DeBrincat's side
- Shot attempts
- 0–1
- 0.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.0–0.0
- —
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | DeBrincat | Eklund |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-16 | DET 4–2 SJS | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-01-14 | DET 3–6 SJS | 0G 0A 5S | 1G 2A 4S |
| 2024-11-18 | DET 4–5 SJS | 1G 0A 3S | 2G 0A 3S |
| 2024-01-02 | DET 5–3 SJS | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-12-07 | DET 5–6 SJS | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 5S |
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
William Eklund
1games
1.2proj. ESPN pts
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TOR1.2 ptsOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to LW
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Alex DeBrincat or William Eklund 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 William Eklund's 1.62. DeBrincat had 85 points in 82 games; Eklund had 53 in 78 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 William Eklund?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Alex DeBrincat leads in 22 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have DeBrincat and Eklund done against each other?
- In 5 games against each other in our data, DeBrincat's team went 2–3. DeBrincat had 2 points (2 goals) and Eklund had 6 (3 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 →