Who to start · 2025-26
Brock Nelson vs Leon Draisaitl
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Leon Draisaitl projects to 2.96 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Brock Nelson's 2.23.
Nelson had 65 points in 81 games; Draisaitl had 97 in 65 games.
This week Nelson has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Draisaitl has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Draisaitl for 2.0 ESPN points to Nelson's 1.3.
They split the 36 stats both are ranked on 17–17.
Nelson's biggest edges: Blocked shots 65, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.000, Scoring chances 58.3%.
Draisaitl's biggest edges: Ascension score 69, Luck Meter +30, Faceoff win % 56.9%.
Head to head on the dot, Nelson leads Draisaitl 45–44.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 2 A, 3 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 2 G, 2 A, 2 PPP, 10 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brock Nelson
2.23
fantasy points per game
Leon Draisaitl
2.96
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Leon Draisaitl has the edge.
| Points per game from | Nelson | Draisaitl |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.89 | 1.19 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.96 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.20 | 0.34 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.22 | 0.31 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.38 | 0.10 |
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 Draisaitl
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 2G 5A, 33 SOG · Draisaitl 8G 12A, 45 SOG
Nelson's offensive zone 13–18 · neutral 15–10 · Nelson's defensive zone 17–16 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Nelson's side)
11:19 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Nelson's side
- Shot attempts
- 7–13
- 35.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.7
- 22.0%
- Goals
- 2–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Nelson | Draisaitl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-10 | COL 3–4 EDM | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 2A 5S |
| 2025-11-08 | COL 9–1 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-11-12 | NYI 3–4 EDM | 0G 1A 1S | 2G 0A 2S |
| 2023-12-19 | NYI 3–1 EDM | 0G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2023-11-13 | NYI 1–4 EDM | 0G 0A 10S | 1G 3A 2S |
| 2023-01-05 | NYI 2–4 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 8S |
| 2022-11-23 | NYI 3–0 EDM | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2022-02-11 | NYI 1–3 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2019-10-08 | NYI 2–5 EDM | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2019-02-21 | NYI 3–4 EDM | 1G 1A 2S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2019-02-16 | NYI 5–2 EDM | 1G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2018-03-08 | NYI 1–2 EDM | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 13 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)
Leon Draisaitl
3games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VANOpp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA2.0 ptsOpp allows 6th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Brock Nelson or Leon Draisaitl in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Leon Draisaitl projects to 2.96 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Brock Nelson's 2.23. Nelson had 65 points in 81 games; Draisaitl had 97 in 65 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 Leon Draisaitl?
- On 2025-26 numbers they split 17–17 across 36 stats where both qualify.
- How have Nelson and Draisaitl done against each other?
- In 13 games against each other in our data, Nelson's team went 4–9. Nelson had 7 points (2 goals) and Draisaitl had 20 (8 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Nelson or Draisaitl?
- Against each other, Nelson has won 45 and Draisaitl 44 of their 89 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 →