Who to start · 2025-26
Bowen Byram vs John Carlson
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, John Carlson projects to 2.10 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Bowen Byram's 1.37.
Byram had 42 points in 82 games; Carlson had 60 in 71 games.
This week Byram has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Carlson has 1 left. We project Byram for 2.0 ESPN points to Carlson's 1.9.
John Carlson has the better number in 23 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Byram's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 −0.046, 20+ mph bursts 107, Hits 50.
Carlson's biggest edges: Goals above expected +1.7, Forecheck xG /60 0.32, Hardest shot 99.8.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Bowen Byram
1.37
fantasy points per game
John Carlson
2.10
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, John Carlson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Byram | Carlson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.24 | 0.37 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.33 | 0.61 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.04 | 0.09 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.12 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.59 | 0.76 |
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: Byram vs Carlson
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.
Byram 0G 6A, 7 SOG · Carlson 0G 9A, 15 SOG
Byram blocked 1 of Carlson's shots; Carlson blocked 0 of Byram's.
On the ice against each other (Byram's side)
9:16 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Byram's side
- Shot attempts
- 7–7
- 50.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.6–0.5
- 54.3%
- Goals
- 2–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Byram | Carlson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-22 | BUF 5–6 ANA | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-11-01 | BUF 4–3 WSH | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-03-30 | BUF 8–5 WSH | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-01-06 | BUF 4–3 WSH | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2024-12-14 | BUF 2–4 WSH | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 3A 1S |
| 2024-04-02 | BUF 6–2 WSH | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-02-13 | COL 6–3 WSH | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-01-24 | COL 6–2 WSH | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-04-18 | COL 2–3 WSH | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2021-10-19 | COL 3–6 WSH | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 1A 0S |
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.
Bowen Byram
3games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ VGKOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Carter Hart (.891)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ UTAOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to DLikely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ BUF2.0 ptsOpp allows 8th-most FP to DSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.910)
John Carlson
2games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 9th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH1.9 ptsSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Bowen Byram or John Carlson in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, John Carlson projects to 2.10 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Bowen Byram's 1.37. Byram had 42 points in 82 games; Carlson had 60 in 71 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, Bowen Byram or John Carlson?
- On 2025-26 numbers, John Carlson 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 Byram and Carlson done against each other?
- In 10 games against each other in our data, Byram's team went 6–4. Byram had 6 points (0 goals) and Carlson had 9 (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 →