Who to start · 2025-26
Brock Nelson vs Josh Doan
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brock Nelson projects to 2.23 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Josh Doan's 1.47.
Nelson had 65 points in 81 games; Doan had 52 in 82 games.
This week Nelson has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Doan has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Doan for 1.8 ESPN points to Nelson's 1.3.
Brock Nelson has the better number in 25 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Nelson's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 735, Plus/minus +15, Blocked shots 65.
Doan's biggest edges: Ascension score 60, Hits 78, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.51.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 2 A, 3 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brock Nelson
2.23
fantasy points per game
Josh Doan
1.47
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Brock Nelson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Nelson | Doan |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.89 | 0.57 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.31 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.20 | 0.10 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.22 | 0.21 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.10 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.38 | 0.18 |
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 Doan
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2024-25 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Nelson 2G 2A, 11 SOG · Doan 1G 1A, 7 SOG
Nelson blocked 1 of Doan's shots; Doan blocked 0 of Nelson's.
On the ice against each other (Nelson's side)
6:33 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Nelson's side
- Shot attempts
- 9–7
- 56.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.6
- 30.8%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Nelson | Doan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-13 | COL 6–3 BUF | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-10-13 | COL 3–1 BUF | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-01-11 | NYI 2–1 UTA | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-10-10 | NYI 4–5 UTA | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 1S |
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)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows the most FP to CLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL1.3 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
Josh Doan
2games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ CBJOpp allows 8th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CHI1.8 ptsOpp allows 4th-most FP to RWLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Brock Nelson or Josh Doan 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 Josh Doan's 1.47. Nelson had 65 points in 81 games; Doan had 52 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, Brock Nelson or Josh Doan?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Brock Nelson leads in 25 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Nelson and Doan done against each other?
- In 4 games against each other in our data, Nelson's team went 3–1. Nelson had 4 points (2 goals) and Doan had 2 (1 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 →