Who to start · 2025-26
Brad Marchand vs Joel Eriksson Ek
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brad Marchand projects to 2.26 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Joel Eriksson Ek's 1.70.
Marchand had 54 points in 52 games; Eriksson Ek had 51 in 70 games.
This week Marchand has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Eriksson Ek has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Marchand for 1.8 ESPN points to Eriksson Ek's 1.3.
Joel Eriksson Ek has the better number in 17 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Marchand's biggest edges: Goals above expected +6.9, Forecheck xG /60 0.28, Transition attempts /60 1.94.
Eriksson Ek's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 681, Plus/minus +16, Hardest shot 91.4.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brad Marchand
2.26
fantasy points per game
Joel Eriksson Ek
1.79
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Brad Marchand has the edge.
| Points per game from | Marchand | Eriksson Ek |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.04 | 0.54 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.52 | 0.46 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.20 | 0.11 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.27 | 0.28 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.15 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.15 | 0.24 |
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: Marchand vs Eriksson Ek
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Marchand 8G 10A, 25 SOG · Eriksson Ek 2G 4A, 27 SOG
Marchand's offensive zone 0–2 · neutral 0–0 · Marchand's defensive zone 0–0 (2021-22 to 2022-23)
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Marchand | Eriksson Ek |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-24 | FLA 4–3 MIN | 2G 1A 6S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2025-02-04 | BOS 3–0 MIN | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2023-12-23 | BOS 2–3 MIN | 0G 1A 0S | 1G 1A 5S |
| 2023-12-19 | BOS 3–4 MIN | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2023-03-18 | BOS 5–2 MIN | 0G 3A 1S | 0G 1A 6S |
| 2022-03-16 | BOS 2–4 MIN | 1G 0A 6S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2020-02-01 | BOS 6–1 MIN | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2019-11-23 | BOS 5–4 MIN | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2019-01-08 | BOS 4–0 MIN | 1G 2A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2018-03-25 | BOS 2–1 MIN | 1G 1A 2S | 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.
Brad Marchand
3games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ CAROpp allows 9th-most FP to LWLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ SJSOpp allows 15th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ ANA1.8 ptsOpp allows 8th-most FP to LWLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
Joel Eriksson Ek
2games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NSHOpp allows 10th-most FP to CLikely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs BOS1.3 ptsOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +12.8 win%Likely vs Michael DiPietro (1.000)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Brad Marchand or Joel Eriksson Ek in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brad Marchand projects to 2.26 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Joel Eriksson Ek's 1.70. Marchand had 54 points in 52 games; Eriksson Ek had 51 in 70 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, Brad Marchand or Joel Eriksson Ek?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Joel Eriksson Ek leads in 17 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Marchand and Eriksson Ek done against each other?
- In 10 games against each other in our data, Marchand's team went 7–3. Marchand had 18 points (8 goals) and Eriksson Ek had 6 (2 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Marchand or Eriksson Ek?
- Against each other, Marchand has won 0 and Eriksson Ek 2 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 →