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Who to start · 2025-26

Alexis Lafrenière vs Mattias Ekholm

Alexis LafrenièreAlexis LafrenièreRangers · Left wingvsMattias EkholmMattias EkholmOilers · Defence

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mattias Ekholm projects to 1.43 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Alexis Lafrenière's 1.41.

Lafrenière had 57 points in 82 games; Ekholm had 41 in 82 games.

This week Lafrenière has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Ekholm has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Lafrenière for 1.2 ESPN points to Ekholm's 1.1.

Alexis Lafrenière has the better number in 18 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

Lafrenière's biggest edges: Goals above expected −0.6, On-ice PDO 1016, Luck Meter +12.

Ekholm's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 0, Plus/minus +32, Hardest shot 98.4.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Alexis Lafrenière

1.41

fantasy points per game

Mattias Ekholm

1.43

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Mattias Ekholm has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromLafrenièreEkholm
Goals (+2)0.490.13
Assists (+1)0.340.38
Power-play points (+0.5)0.080.02
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.000.00
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.190.15
Hits (+0.1)0.110.08
Blocks (+0.5)0.210.67

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: Lafrenière vs Ekholm

Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.

LafrenièreEkholm
3Team record in 8 meetings5
6Points in those games1

Lafrenière 2G 4A, 22 SOG · Ekholm 0G 1A, 12 SOG

1Hits on each other0
1Shots blocked by the other1

Lafrenière blocked 1 of Ekholm's shots; Ekholm blocked 1 of Lafrenière's.

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

6:20 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Lafrenière's side

Shot attempts
3–3
50.0%
Expected goals
0.2–0.1
64.3%
Goals
0–0

Games against each other

Games between Alexis Lafrenière and Mattias Ekholm
DateScoreLafrenièreEkholm
2025-10-30NYR 4–3 EDM0G 1A 3S0G 0A 1S
2025-10-14NYR 0–2 EDM0G 0A 3S0G 0A 3S
2024-11-23NYR 2–6 EDM0G 1A 3S0G 0A 4S
2023-12-22NYR 3–4 EDM0G 1A 4S0G 1A 0S
2023-10-26NYR 3–0 EDM1G 0A 3S0G 0A 1S
2022-11-12NYR 1–2 NSH0G 0A 1S0G 0A 1S
2021-12-12NYR 0–1 NSH0G 0A 1S0G 0A 0S
2021-10-21NYR 3–1 NSH1G 1A 4S0G 0A 2S

Every stat, side by side

Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.

LafrenièreEkholm

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.

Alexis Lafrenière

4games (1 left)

1.2proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 @ BOS
    Opp allows 2nd-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
  • Thu, Oct 1 vs TBL
    Opp allows 6th-most FP to LWLikely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
  • Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2B
    Schedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs John Gibson (.901)
  • Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA1.2 pts
    Opp allows 3rd-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)

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)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Alexis Lafrenière or Mattias Ekholm in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mattias Ekholm projects to 1.43 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Alexis Lafrenière's 1.41. Lafrenière had 57 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, Alexis Lafrenière or Mattias Ekholm?
On 2025-26 numbers, Alexis Lafrenière leads in 18 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
How have Lafrenière and Ekholm done against each other?
In 8 games against each other in our data, Lafrenière's team went 3–5. Lafrenière had 6 points (2 goals) and Ekholm had 1 (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 →