Who to start · 2025-26
Brent Burns vs Clayton Keller
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Clayton Keller projects to 2.15 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Brent Burns's 1.38.
Burns had 35 points in 82 games; Keller had 88 in 82 games.
This week Burns has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Keller has 2 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Keller for 2.9 ESPN points to Burns's 0.9.
Clayton Keller has the better number in 24 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Burns's biggest edges: Goals above expected +4.8, Faceoffs won 0, Transition attempts /60 0.90.
Keller's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 69.8%, Ice-time share 31.6%, Ice time per game 19:05.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 2 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brent Burns
1.38
fantasy points per game
Clayton Keller
2.15
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Clayton Keller has the edge.
| Points per game from | Burns | Keller |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.27 | 0.59 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.33 | 0.83 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.22 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.20 | 0.28 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.03 | 0.01 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.55 | 0.21 |
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: Burns vs Keller
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.
Burns 3G 14A, 105 SOG · Keller 7G 18A, 90 SOG
Burns blocked 2 of Keller's shots; Keller blocked 4 of Burns's.
On the ice against each other (Burns's side)
23:38 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Burns's side
- Shot attempts
- 24–29
- 45.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.9–1.4
- 38.5%
- Goals
- 2–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Burns | Keller |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-25 | COL 4–2 UTA | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2025-12-23 | COL 1–0 UTA | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2025-10-21 | COL 3–4 UTA | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 2A 4S |
| 2025-10-09 | COL 2–1 UTA | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-02-08 | CAR 7–3 UTA | 0G 1A 1S | 2G 0A 5S |
| 2024-11-13 | CAR 1–4 UTA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-02-16 | CAR 5–1 ARI | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-01-27 | CAR 3–1 ARI | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-03-03 | CAR 6–1 ARI | 0G 4A 0S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2022-11-23 | CAR 0–4 ARI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2022-03-30 | SJS 2–5 ARI | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-03-20 | SJS 4–2 ARI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
Latest 12 of 32 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.
Brent Burns
2games (1 left)
0.9proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows 3rd-most FP to DLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL0.9 ptsOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to DSchedule edge +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
Clayton Keller
3games (2 left)
2.9proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs CHIOpp allows 4th-most FP to RWLikely vs Arvid Soderblom (.880)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ CBJ1.4 ptsOpp allows 8th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ NYRB2B1.4 ptsOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Brent Burns or Clayton Keller in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Clayton Keller projects to 2.15 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Brent Burns's 1.38. Burns had 35 points in 82 games; Keller had 88 in 82 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, Brent Burns or Clayton Keller?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Clayton Keller leads in 24 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Burns and Keller done against each other?
- In 32 games against each other in our data, Burns's team went 18–14. Burns had 17 points (3 goals) and Keller had 25 (7 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 →