Who to start · 2025-26
Brandt Clarke vs Erik Karlsson
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brandt Clarke projects to 1.97 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Erik Karlsson's 1.96.
Clarke had 40 points in 82 games; Karlsson had 66 in 75 games.
This week Clarke has 1 game left; Karlsson has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Clarke for 1.6 ESPN points to Karlsson's 1.3.
Erik Karlsson has the better number in 19 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Clarke's biggest edges: Blocked shots 185, Penalty minutes 63, Transition attempts /60 0.71.
Karlsson's biggest edges: Hardest shot 96.6, 20+ mph bursts 153, Forecheck xG /60 0.32.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brandt Clarke
1.97
fantasy points per game
Erik Karlsson
1.96
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Brandt Clarke has the edge.
| Points per game from | Clarke | Karlsson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.18 | 0.38 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.37 | 0.70 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.07 | 0.19 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.19 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.03 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 1.12 | 0.43 |
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: Clarke vs Karlsson
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2023-24 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Clarke 0G 0A, 8 SOG · Karlsson 0G 4A, 11 SOG
On the ice against each other (Clarke's side)
7:50 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Clarke's side
- Shot attempts
- 4–9
- 30.8%
- Expected goals
- 0.7–0.6
- 54.6%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Clarke | Karlsson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-09 | LAK 3–2 PIT | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-10-16 | LAK 2–4 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2025-01-20 | LAK 1–5 PIT | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-12-17 | LAK 2–3 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2024-02-18 | LAK 2–1 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
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.
Brandt Clarke
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ COLOpp allows 12th-most FP to DLikely vs Mackenzie Blackwood (.903)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ SJS1.6 ptsOpp allows 13th-fewest FP to DSchedule edge −3.2 win%Likely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)
Erik Karlsson
2games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 2nd-most FP to DLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL1.3 ptsOpp allows 7th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Brandt Clarke or Erik Karlsson in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brandt Clarke projects to 1.97 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Erik Karlsson's 1.96. Clarke had 40 points in 82 games; Karlsson had 66 in 75 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, Brandt Clarke or Erik Karlsson?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Erik Karlsson leads in 19 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Clarke and Karlsson done against each other?
- In 5 games against each other in our data, Clarke's team went 2–3. Clarke had 0 points (0 goals) and Karlsson had 4 (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 →