Who to start · 2025-26
Brandon Hagel vs Matthew Knies
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brandon Hagel projects to 2.15 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Matthew Knies's 2.06.
Hagel had 74 points in 71 games; Knies had 66 in 79 games.
This week Hagel has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Knies has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Hagel for 1.8 ESPN points to Knies's 1.4.
Brandon Hagel has the better number in 26 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Hagel's biggest edges: Plus/minus +34, Corsi 58.5%, Fenwick 57.9%.
Knies's biggest edges: Hits 152, Goals above expected +0.3, Luck Meter +36.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brandon Hagel
2.15
fantasy points per game
Matthew Knies
2.06
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Brandon Hagel has the edge.
| Points per game from | Hagel | Knies |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.95 | 0.80 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.57 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.07 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.30 | 0.19 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.06 | 0.18 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.25 | 0.19 |
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: Hagel vs Knies
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2022-23 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Hagel 4G 13A, 39 SOG · Knies 11G 10A, 35 SOG
On the ice against each other (Hagel's side)
18:40 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Hagel's side
- Shot attempts
- 27–15
- 64.3%
- Expected goals
- 1.0–0.6
- 61.6%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Hagel | Knies |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-07 | TBL 5–2 TOR | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-02-25 | TBL 4–2 TOR | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2025-12-08 | TBL 0–2 TOR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-04-09 | TBL 3–4 TOR | 0G 2A 1S | 3G 0A 6S |
| 2025-01-20 | TBL 3–5 TOR | 0G 1A 1S | 2G 1A 4S |
| 2024-11-30 | TBL 3–5 TOR | 0G 2A 6S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2024-10-21 | TBL 2–5 TOR | 0G 0A 5S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2024-04-17 | TBL 6–4 TOR | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-04-03 | TBL 4–1 TOR | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-11-06 | TBL 5–6 TOR | 1G 1A 2S | 1G 2A 2S |
| 2023-10-21 | TBL 3–4 TOR | 0G 0A 0S | 2G 1A 3S |
| 2023-04-29 · PO | TBL 1–2 TOR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
Latest 12 of 17 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.
Brandon Hagel
2games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 7th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH1.8 ptsOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)
Matthew Knies
2games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs BUFOpp allows 10th-most FP to LWLikely vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.910)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs UTA1.4 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Brandon Hagel or Matthew Knies in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brandon Hagel projects to 2.15 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Matthew Knies's 2.06. Hagel had 74 points in 71 games; Knies had 66 in 79 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, Brandon Hagel or Matthew Knies?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Brandon Hagel leads in 26 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Hagel and Knies done against each other?
- In 17 games against each other in our data, Hagel's team went 5–12. Hagel had 17 points (4 goals) and Knies had 21 (11 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 →