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Who to start · 2025-26

Alex Laferriere vs Mattias Ekholm

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Alex Laferriere projects to 1.79 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mattias Ekholm's 1.43.

Laferriere had 44 points in 82 games; Ekholm had 41 in 82 games.

This week Laferriere has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Ekholm has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Laferriere for 1.3 ESPN points to Ekholm's 1.1.

They split the 34 stats both are ranked on 17–17.

Laferriere's biggest edges: Goals above expected −0.4, 20+ mph bursts 182, Hits 255.

Ekholm's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 59.6%, Forecheck xG /60 0.36, Offensive-zone time 45.7%.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Alex Laferriere

1.79

fantasy points per game

Mattias Ekholm

1.43

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Alex Laferriere has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromLaferriereEkholm
Goals (+2)0.480.13
Assists (+1)0.390.38
Power-play points (+0.5)0.020.02
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.010.00
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.250.15
Hits (+0.1)0.320.08
Blocks (+0.5)0.310.67

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: Laferriere vs Ekholm

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.

LaferriereEkholm
5Team record in 14 meetings9
4Points in those games3

Laferriere 3G 1A, 31 SOG · Ekholm 0G 3A, 18 SOG

3Hits on each other1
0Shots blocked by the other1

Laferriere blocked 0 of Ekholm's shots; Ekholm blocked 1 of Laferriere's.

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

20:49 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Laferriere's side

Shot attempts
25–18
58.1%
Expected goals
0.8–1.0
43.9%
Goals
1–1

Games against each other

Games between Alex Laferriere and Mattias Ekholm
DateScoreLaferriereEkholm
2026-04-11LAK 1–0 EDM0G 0A 4S0G 0A 1S
2026-02-26LAK 1–8 EDM0G 0A 2S0G 1A 1S
2026-01-10LAK 4–3 EDM1G 0A 5S0G 0A 0S
2025-01-13LAK 0–1 EDM0G 0A 1S0G 0A 3S
2024-12-28LAK 4–3 EDM0G 0A 5S0G 0A 2S
2024-05-01 · POLAK 3–4 EDM1G 0A 2S0G 0A 0S
2024-04-28 · POLAK 0–1 EDM0G 0A 1S0G 0A 1S
2024-04-26 · POLAK 1–6 EDM0G 0A 1S0G 1A 5S
2024-04-24 · POLAK 5–4 EDM0G 0A 1S0G 0A 1S
2024-04-22 · POLAK 4–7 EDM0G 1A 5S0G 0A 1S
2024-03-28LAK 1–4 EDM0G 0A 0S0G 1A 0S
2024-02-26LAK 2–4 EDM1G 0A 3S0G 0A 1S

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.

LaferriereEkholm

Fantasy box score

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 Laferriere

2games (1 left)

1.3proj. ESPN pts

  • Wed, Sep 30 @ COL
    Opp allows 8th-most FP to RWLikely vs Mackenzie Blackwood (.903)
  • Sat, Oct 3 @ SJS1.3 pts
    Opp allows 7th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)

Mattias Ekholm

3games (1 left)

1.1proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 vs VAN
    Opp allows 5th-most FP to DLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
  • Thu, Oct 1 @ VAN
    Opp allows 5th-most FP to DLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.1 pts
    Opp allows 3rd-fewest FP to DLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)

FAQ

Should I start Alex Laferriere or Mattias Ekholm in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Alex Laferriere projects to 1.79 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mattias Ekholm's 1.43. Laferriere had 44 points in 82 games; Ekholm had 41 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 Laferriere or Mattias Ekholm?
On 2025-26 numbers they split 17–17 across 34 stats where both qualify.
How have Laferriere and Ekholm done against each other?
In 14 games against each other in our data, Laferriere's team went 5–9. Laferriere had 4 points (3 goals) and Ekholm had 3 (0 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 →