Who to start · 2025-26
Brock Nelson vs Chandler Stephenson
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brock Nelson projects to 2.23 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Chandler Stephenson's 1.47.
Nelson had 65 points in 81 games; Stephenson had 49 in 80 games.
This week Nelson has 1 game left; Stephenson has 2 left. We project Stephenson for 2.8 ESPN points to Nelson's 2.0.
Brock Nelson has the better number in 24 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Nelson's biggest edges: Expected goals 60.0%, Sequence xG 59.8%, Scoring chances 58.3%.
Stephenson's biggest edges: Luck Meter +23, Top skating speed 23.3, Ascension score 51.
Head to head on the dot, Nelson leads Stephenson 30–26.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 2 A, 3 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brock Nelson
2.23
fantasy points per game
Chandler Stephenson
1.47
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Brock Nelson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Nelson | Stephenson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.89 | 0.50 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.39 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.20 | 0.09 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.22 | 0.12 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.02 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.38 | 0.33 |
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: Nelson vs Stephenson
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.
Nelson 8G 3A, 59 SOG · Stephenson 1G 9A, 24 SOG
Nelson's offensive zone 12–16 · neutral 9–3 · Nelson's defensive zone 9–7 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
Nelson blocked 0 of Stephenson's shots; Stephenson blocked 1 of Nelson's.
On the ice against each other (Nelson's side)
7:14 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Nelson's side
- Shot attempts
- 9–8
- 52.9%
- Expected goals
- 0.6–0.3
- 62.6%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Nelson | Stephenson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-16 | COL 2–0 SEA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-03-12 | COL 5–1 SEA | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-12-16 | COL 5–3 SEA | 1G 0A 7S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2024-12-05 | NYI 2–5 SEA | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-11-16 | NYI 2–3 SEA | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-01-23 | NYI 2–3 VGK | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-01-06 | NYI 2–5 VGK | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2023-01-28 | NYI 2–1 VGK | 0G 1A 6S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2022-12-17 | NYI 5–2 VGK | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2021-12-19 | NYI 3–4 VGK | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2021-10-24 | NYI 2–0 VGK | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2020-02-15 | NYI 0–1 VGK | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
Latest 12 of 20 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.
Brock Nelson
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAK
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL2.0 ptsSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Chandler Stephenson
3games (2 left)
2.8proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ CGY
- Sat, Oct 3 @ EDM1.4 pts
- Sun, Oct 4 vs CGYB2B1.4 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Brock Nelson or Chandler Stephenson in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brock Nelson projects to 2.23 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Chandler Stephenson's 1.47. Nelson had 65 points in 81 games; Stephenson had 49 in 80 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, Brock Nelson or Chandler Stephenson?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Brock Nelson leads in 24 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Nelson and Stephenson done against each other?
- In 20 games against each other in our data, Nelson's team went 10–10. Nelson had 11 points (8 goals) and Stephenson had 10 (1 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Nelson or Stephenson?
- Against each other, Nelson has won 30 and Stephenson 26 of their 56 head-to-head draws.
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 →