Who to start · 2026-27
Ben Meyers vs Jesperi Kotkaniemi
In 2026-27, Ben Meyers scored 1.42 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Jesperi Kotkaniemi's 1.12.
Meyers had 5 points in 9 games; Kotkaniemi had 5 in 10 games.
This week Meyers has 1 game left; Kotkaniemi has 1 left. In ESPN default points scoring we project Meyers for 0.9 to Kotkaniemi's 0.9 over the games left.
Jesperi Kotkaniemi has the better number in 1 of the 2 stats both are ranked on.
Kotkaniemi's biggest edges: Ascension score 70.
Role trend over the last 5 games: Meyers is cooling, 0 P in last 5 (0.40/GP before); Kotkaniemi is surging, On-ice xGF/60 2.80 (was 1.98).
- • Meyers has played 9 of the Kraken's 10 games since Oct 3 (in and out of the lineup).
- • Meyers, last 9 games (Oct 3–Oct 22): 1 G, 4 A, 0 PPP, 8 SOG.
- • Kotkaniemi, last 10 games (Oct 3–Oct 22): 2 G, 3 A, 0 PPP, 10 SOG.
Seattle Kraken · Carolina Hurricanes · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Ben Meyers
0.0
category z-score total
Jesperi Kotkaniemi
0.0
category z-score total
Dead even under Standard (6 categories) (Meyers wins 0, Kotkaniemi wins 0 of 6 categories).
| Category | Meyers | Kotkaniemi |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.11 | 0.20 |
| Assists / game | 0.44 | 0.30 |
| Plus/minus / game | 0.44 | 0.40 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal / game | 0.89 | 1.00 |
| Hits / game | 1.67 | 1.20 |
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 scoring choice is shared with Who Should I Start: saved on this device, and on your account when you are signed in.
Head-to-head: Meyers vs Kotkaniemi
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2021-22: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Meyers 1G 0A, 2 SOG · Kotkaniemi 0G 0A, 1 SOG
Meyers's offensive zone 1–0 · neutral 1–4 · Meyers's defensive zone 0–1 (2021-22)
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Meyers | Kotkaniemi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-04-16 | COL 7–4 CAR | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
Faceoffs: Meyers vs Kotkaniemi
Model: Ben Meyers wins 52.7% of draws against Jesperi Kotkaniemi on average (L shot vs L shot). Same-handed, so the dot decides who is on his strong side; the gap between the left and right dots is the real matchup.
| Meyers at | OZ left | OZ right | NZ left (att.) | NZ right (att.) | Centre | NZ left (def.) | NZ right (def.) | DZ left | DZ right |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 62% | 43% | 63% | 44% | 53% | 63% | 44% | 64% | 45% |
| Road | 61% | 41% | 62% | 42% | 53% | 62% | 42% | 63% | 44% |
They have not faced each other on a draw in the seasons we track.
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, Luck & trend, NHL EDGE tracking continue below
Every stat, side by side (continued)
Transition, turnovers & faceoffs
Usage
Special teams & discipline
This week's schedule
Oct 19 to Oct 25. 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 cover the games left: Edgehalla's rest-of-season rates per game, adjusted for each opponent's scoring allowed, in ESPN default points.
Scored in ESPN default points (G 2, A 1, PPP 0.5, SHP 0.5, SOG 0.1, HIT 0.1, BLK 0.5). Use your league's scoring
Ben Meyers
3games (1 left)
0.9proj. ESPN default pts
- Tue, Oct 20 vs DETOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Daniil Tarasov (.941)
- Thu, Oct 22 vs UTAOpp allows 15th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Karel Vejmelka (.872)
- Sat, Oct 24 vs MIN0.9 pts
Jesperi Kotkaniemi
3games (1 left)
0.9proj. ESPN default pts
- Tue, Oct 20 @ VANOpp allows 5th-most FP to CLikely vs Leevi Meriläinen (.917)
- Thu, Oct 22 @ EDMOpp allows 9th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Devon Levi (.887)
- Sat, Oct 24 @ STL0.9 ptsOpp allows 16th-most FP to CLikely vs Joel Hofer (.921)
FAQ
- Should I start Ben Meyers or Jesperi Kotkaniemi in fantasy hockey?
- In 2026-27, Ben Meyers scored 1.42 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Jesperi Kotkaniemi's 1.12. Meyers had 5 points in 9 games; Kotkaniemi had 5 in 10 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, Ben Meyers or Jesperi Kotkaniemi?
- On 2026-27 numbers, Jesperi Kotkaniemi leads in 1 of 2 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Meyers and Kotkaniemi done against each other?
- In 1 games against each other in our data, Meyers's team went 1–0. Meyers had 1 points (1 goals) and Kotkaniemi had 0 (0 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Meyers or Kotkaniemi?
- Against each other, Meyers has won 2 and Kotkaniemi 5 of their 7 head-to-head draws.
2026-27 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 →