Who to start · 2025-26
Chandler Stephenson 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 Chandler Stephenson's 1.47.
Stephenson had 49 points in 80 games; Kaprizov had 89 in 78 games.
This week Stephenson has 2 games left with 1 soft matchup; Kaprizov has 1 left. We project Stephenson for 2.9 ESPN points to Kaprizov's 1.9.
Kirill Kaprizov has the better number in 25 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Stephenson's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 759, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.020, Blocked shots 56.
Kaprizov's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 67.5%, Expected goals 54.4%, Plus/minus +10.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Chandler Stephenson
1.47
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 | Stephenson | Kaprizov |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.50 | 1.21 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.39 | 0.53 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.09 | 0.19 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.12 | 0.34 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.02 | 0.07 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.33 | 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: Stephenson vs Kaprizov
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2020-21 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Stephenson 2G 21A, 28 SOG · Kaprizov 10G 9A, 75 SOG
On the ice against each other (Stephenson's side)
20:14 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Stephenson's side
- Shot attempts
- 15–22
- 40.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.9
- 21.2%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Stephenson | Kaprizov |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-07 | SEA 2–5 MIN | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2026-01-08 | SEA 2–3 MIN | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 2A 4S |
| 2025-12-08 | SEA 1–4 MIN | 0G 1A 4S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-10-12 | SEA 5–4 MIN | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 2A 4S |
| 2024-04-12 | VGK 7–2 MIN | 0G 4A 0S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2024-03-30 | VGK 2–1 MIN | 0G 1A 0S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2024-02-12 | VGK 3–5 MIN | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 2A 6S |
| 2023-02-09 | VGK 5–1 MIN | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2022-03-21 | VGK 0–3 MIN | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2021-12-12 | VGK 6–4 MIN | 0G 4A 1S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2021-11-11 | VGK 3–2 MIN | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2021-05-28 · PO | VGK 6–2 MIN | 0G 2A 0S | 1G 0A 1S |
Latest 12 of 24 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.
Chandler Stephenson
3games (2 left)
2.9proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ CGYOpp allows 2nd-most FP to C
- Sat, Oct 3 @ EDM1.5 ptsOpp allows 12th-most FP to C
- Sun, Oct 4 vs CGYB2B1.5 ptsOpp allows 2nd-most FP to C
Kirill Kaprizov
2games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NSHOpp allows 12th-most FP to LW
- Sat, Oct 3 vs BOS1.9 ptsOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Chandler Stephenson 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 Chandler Stephenson's 1.47. Stephenson had 49 points in 80 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, Chandler Stephenson or Kirill Kaprizov?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Kirill Kaprizov 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 Stephenson and Kaprizov done against each other?
- In 24 games against each other in our data, Stephenson's team went 13–11. Stephenson had 23 points (2 goals) and Kaprizov had 19 (10 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 →