Who to start · 2025-26
Brock Nelson vs Kirill Kaprizov
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Kirill Kaprizov projects to 2.50 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Brock Nelson's 2.23.
Nelson had 65 points in 81 games; Kaprizov had 89 in 78 games.
This week Nelson has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Kaprizov has 1 left. We project Kaprizov for 1.9 ESPN points to Nelson's 1.3.
Kirill Kaprizov has the better number in 18 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Nelson's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 735, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.000, Blocked shots 65.
Kaprizov's biggest edges: Ascension score 54, Offensive-zone start % 67.5%, Transition attempts /60 1.30.
- • 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, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brock Nelson
2.23
fantasy points per game
Kirill Kaprizov
2.50
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Kirill Kaprizov has the edge.
| Points per game from | Nelson | Kaprizov |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.89 | 1.21 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.53 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.20 | 0.19 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.22 | 0.34 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.07 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.38 | 0.16 |
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 Kaprizov
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Nelson 3G 3A, 34 SOG · Kaprizov 8G 10A, 50 SOG
Nelson's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 0–0 · Nelson's defensive zone 1–0 (2023-24)
Nelson blocked 1 of Kaprizov's shots; Kaprizov blocked 2 of Nelson's.
On the ice against each other (Nelson's side)
49:18 at 5-on-5 over 9 games, 2025-26, from Nelson's side
- Shot attempts
- 57–52
- 52.3%
- Expected goals
- 2.3–2.8
- 44.8%
- Goals
- 0–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Nelson | Kaprizov |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-13 · PO | COL 4–3 MIN | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2026-05-11 · PO | COL 5–2 MIN | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-05-09 · PO | COL 1–5 MIN | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 2A 4S |
| 2026-05-05 · PO | COL 5–2 MIN | 0G 1A 0S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2026-05-03 · PO | COL 9–6 MIN | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2026-03-08 | COL 3–2 MIN | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2026-02-26 | COL 2–5 MIN | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2025-12-21 | COL 5–1 MIN | 1G 2A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-11-28 | COL 2–3 MIN | 0G 0A 3S | 2G 0A 4S |
| 2024-01-15 | NYI 0–5 MIN | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2023-11-07 | NYI 2–4 MIN | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2023-02-28 | NYI 1–2 MIN | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 6S |
Latest 12 of 15 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)
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)
Kirill Kaprizov
2games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NSHOpp allows 12th-most FP to LWLikely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs BOS1.9 ptsOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge +12.8 win%Likely vs Michael DiPietro (1.000)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Brock Nelson or Kirill Kaprizov in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Kirill Kaprizov projects to 2.50 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Brock Nelson's 2.23. Nelson had 65 points in 81 games; Kaprizov had 89 in 78 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 Kirill Kaprizov?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Kirill Kaprizov leads in 18 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 Kaprizov done against each other?
- In 15 games against each other in our data, Nelson's team went 6–9. Nelson had 6 points (3 goals) and Kaprizov had 18 (8 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Nelson or Kaprizov?
- Against each other, Nelson has won 1 and Kaprizov 0 of their 1 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 →