Who to start · 2025-26
Alexis Lafrenière vs William Eklund
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, William Eklund projects to 1.62 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Alexis Lafrenière's 1.41.
Lafrenière had 57 points in 82 games; Eklund had 53 in 78 games.
This week Lafrenière has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Eklund has 1 left. We project Lafrenière for 1.2 ESPN points to Eklund's 1.2.
Alexis Lafrenière has the better number in 19 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Lafrenière's biggest edges: Goals above expected +0.8, On-ice PDO 1016, Offensive-zone start % 61.0%.
Eklund's biggest edges: Hardest shot 89.3, Penalty minutes 32, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.37.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Alexis Lafrenière
1.64
fantasy points per game
William Eklund
1.62
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Alexis Lafrenière has the edge.
| Points per game from | Lafrenière | Eklund |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.59 | 0.38 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.40 | 0.49 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.09 | 0.10 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.20 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.10 | 0.09 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.26 | 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: Lafrenière 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.
Lafrenière 0G 4A, 13 SOG · Eklund 0G 4A, 9 SOG
On the ice against each other (Lafrenière's side)
6:20 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Lafrenière's side
- Shot attempts
- 11–2
- 84.6%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.1
- 89.4%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Lafrenière | Eklund |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-23 | NYR 1–3 SJS | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-10-23 | NYR 5–6 SJS | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 3A 4S |
| 2025-03-29 | NYR 6–1 SJS | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-11-14 | NYR 3–2 SJS | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-01-23 | NYR 2–3 SJS | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-12-03 | NYR 6–5 SJS | 0G 1A 6S | 0G 0A 1S |
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.
Alexis Lafrenière
4games (1 left)
1.2proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ BOSOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs TBLOpp allows 6th-most FP to LWLikely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2BOpp allows 13th-most FP to LWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs John Gibson (.901)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA1.2 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
William Eklund
1games
1.2proj. ESPN pts
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TOR1.2 ptsOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Alexis Lafrenière or William Eklund in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, William Eklund projects to 1.62 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Alexis Lafrenière's 1.41. Lafrenière had 57 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, Alexis Lafrenière or William Eklund?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Alexis Lafrenière leads in 19 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Lafrenière and Eklund done against each other?
- In 6 games against each other in our data, Lafrenière's team went 3–3. Lafrenière had 4 points (0 goals) and Eklund had 4 (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 →