Who to start · 2025-26
Aliaksei Protas vs Brock Nelson
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brock Nelson projects to 2.23 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Aliaksei Protas's 1.58.
Protas had 52 points in 76 games; Nelson had 65 in 81 games.
This week Protas has 1 game left; Nelson has 1 left. We project Nelson for 2.0 ESPN points to Protas's 1.6.
Brock Nelson has the better number in 23 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Protas's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.46, Top skating speed 23.1, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.30.
Nelson's biggest edges: Power-play time per game 3:14, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.000, Offensive-zone time 44.0%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 2 A, 3 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Aliaksei Protas
1.58
fantasy points per game
Brock Nelson
2.23
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Brock Nelson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Protas | Nelson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.62 | 0.89 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.40 | 0.50 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.20 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.21 | 0.22 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.29 | 0.38 |
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: Protas vs Nelson
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.
Protas 1G 2A, 15 SOG · Nelson 2G 3A, 20 SOG
Protas's offensive zone 0–1 · neutral 1–0 · Protas's defensive zone 0–0 (2023-24)
On the ice against each other (Protas's side)
6:03 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Protas's side
- Shot attempts
- 5–4
- 55.6%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.2
- 44.9%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Protas | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-22 | WSH 2–3 COL | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2026-01-19 | WSH 2–5 COL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2024-11-29 | WSH 5–4 NYI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-12-29 | WSH 1–5 NYI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-12-20 | WSH 3–2 NYI | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2023-11-11 | WSH 4–1 NYI | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-11-02 | WSH 0–3 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2023-04-10 | WSH 5–2 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-03-29 | WSH 1–2 NYI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2022-01-15 | WSH 2–0 NYI | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 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.
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.
Aliaksei Protas
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ CAR
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TBLB2B1.6 pts
Brock Nelson
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAK
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL2.0 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Aliaksei Protas or Brock Nelson in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brock Nelson projects to 2.23 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Aliaksei Protas's 1.58. Protas had 52 points in 76 games; Nelson had 65 in 81 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, Aliaksei Protas or Brock Nelson?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Brock Nelson leads in 23 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Protas and Nelson done against each other?
- In 10 games against each other in our data, Protas's team went 5–5. Protas had 3 points (1 goals) and Nelson had 5 (2 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Protas or Nelson?
- Against each other, Protas has won 1 and Nelson 1 of their 2 head-to-head draws.
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 →