Who to start · 2025-26
Brent Burns vs Joel Eriksson Ek
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Joel Eriksson Ek projects to 1.70 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Brent Burns's 1.38.
Burns had 35 points in 82 games; Eriksson Ek had 51 in 70 games.
This week Burns has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Eriksson Ek has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Eriksson Ek for 1.3 ESPN points to Burns's 0.9.
Joel Eriksson Ek has the better number in 20 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Burns's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.38, Goals above expected +4.8, High-danger chances 56.1%.
Eriksson Ek's biggest edges: Hits 106, Ice-time share 31.2%, 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, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brent Burns
1.38
fantasy points per game
Joel Eriksson Ek
1.70
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Joel Eriksson Ek has the edge.
| Points per game from | Burns | Eriksson Ek |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.27 | 0.51 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.33 | 0.43 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.11 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.20 | 0.28 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.03 | 0.15 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.55 | 0.23 |
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 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.
Burns 7G 10A, 73 SOG · Eriksson Ek 8G 9A, 74 SOG
Burns blocked 3 of Eriksson Ek's shots; Eriksson Ek blocked 0 of Burns's.
On the ice against each other (Burns's side)
16:09 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Burns's side
- Shot attempts
- 12–28
- 30.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.6–0.6
- 50.8%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Burns | Eriksson Ek |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-08 | COL 3–2 MIN | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2026-02-26 | COL 2–5 MIN | 0G 0A 4S | 2G 0A 5S |
| 2025-12-21 | COL 5–1 MIN | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-11-28 | COL 2–3 MIN | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-02-06 | CAR 1–2 MIN | 0G 0A 8S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2025-01-04 | CAR 0–4 MIN | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2024-02-27 | CAR 3–2 MIN | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-01-21 | CAR 2–5 MIN | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 2A 2S |
| 2023-01-19 | CAR 5–2 MIN | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2022-11-19 | CAR 1–2 MIN | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-04-17 | SJS 4–5 MIN | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2021-12-09 | SJS 2–5 MIN | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 4S |
Latest 12 of 30 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 D
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL0.9 ptsOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to DSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Joel Eriksson Ek
2games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NSHOpp allows 10th-most FP to C
- Sat, Oct 3 vs BOS1.3 ptsOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Brent Burns or Joel Eriksson Ek in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Joel Eriksson Ek projects to 1.70 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Brent Burns's 1.38. Burns had 35 points in 82 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, Brent Burns or Joel Eriksson Ek?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Joel Eriksson Ek leads in 20 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 Eriksson Ek done against each other?
- In 30 games against each other in our data, Burns's team went 13–17. Burns had 17 points (7 goals) and Eriksson Ek had 17 (8 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 →