Who to start · 2025-26
Brad Marchand vs John Carlson
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brad Marchand projects to 2.26 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to John Carlson's 2.10.
Marchand had 54 points in 52 games; Carlson had 60 in 71 games.
This week Marchand has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Carlson has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Marchand for 1.8 ESPN points to Carlson's 1.6.
John Carlson has the better number in 18 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Marchand's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.33, Penalty minutes 38, Offensive-zone time 46.0%.
Carlson's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 0, Plus/minus +9, Hardest shot 99.8.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brad Marchand
2.26
fantasy points per game
John Carlson
2.14
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Brad Marchand has the edge.
| Points per game from | Marchand | Carlson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.04 | 0.39 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.52 | 0.65 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.20 | 0.10 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.27 | 0.22 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.15 | 0.75 |
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 Carlson
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 16G 19A, 88 SOG · Carlson 6G 15A, 68 SOG
Marchand blocked 3 of Carlson's shots; Carlson blocked 5 of Marchand's.
On the ice against each other (Marchand's side)
7:22 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Marchand's side
- Shot attempts
- 7–8
- 46.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.6
- 21.0%
- Goals
- 0–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Marchand | Carlson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-29 | FLA 5–3 WSH | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-11-13 | FLA 6–3 WSH | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2024-12-31 | BOS 1–3 WSH | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-12-23 | BOS 4–1 WSH | 1G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-04-15 | BOS 0–2 WSH | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2024-03-30 | BOS 3–2 WSH | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2024-02-10 | BOS 0–3 WSH | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-04-11 | BOS 5–2 WSH | 1G 2A 3S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2022-04-10 | BOS 2–4 WSH | 0G 0A 5S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2022-01-10 | BOS 7–3 WSH | 2G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2021-05-23 · PO | BOS 3–1 WSH | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2021-05-21 · PO | BOS 4–1 WSH | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
Latest 12 of 31 meetings.
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)
John Carlson
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 9th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH1.6 ptsOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to DSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Brad Marchand or John Carlson 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 John Carlson's 2.10. Marchand had 54 points in 52 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, Brad Marchand or John Carlson?
- On 2025-26 numbers, John Carlson leads in 18 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 Carlson done against each other?
- In 31 games against each other in our data, Marchand's team went 16–15. Marchand had 35 points (16 goals) and Carlson had 21 (6 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 →