Who to start · 2025-26
Chandler Stephenson vs Mattias Ekholm
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Chandler Stephenson projects to 1.47 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mattias Ekholm's 1.43.
Stephenson had 49 points in 80 games; Ekholm had 41 in 82 games.
This week Stephenson has 2 games left with 1 soft matchup; Ekholm has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Stephenson for 2.9 ESPN points to Ekholm's 1.1.
Mattias Ekholm has the better number in 19 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Stephenson's biggest edges: Goals above expected +2.9, 20+ mph bursts 169, Ascension score 51.
Ekholm's biggest edges: High-danger chances 58.3%, Sequence xG 58.4%, Expected goals 58.4%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Chandler Stephenson
1.47
fantasy points per game
Mattias Ekholm
1.43
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Chandler Stephenson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Stephenson | Ekholm |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.50 | 0.13 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.39 | 0.38 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.09 | 0.02 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.12 | 0.15 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.02 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.33 | 0.67 |
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 Ekholm
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.
Stephenson 10G 10A, 32 SOG · Ekholm 4G 12A, 48 SOG
Stephenson blocked 2 of Ekholm's shots; Ekholm blocked 2 of Stephenson's.
On the ice against each other (Stephenson's side)
12:38 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Stephenson's side
- Shot attempts
- 5–17
- 22.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.0–1.3
- 1.8%
- Goals
- 0–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Stephenson | Ekholm |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-31 | SEA 0–3 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-12-04 | SEA 4–9 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2025-11-29 | SEA 0–4 EDM | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-10-25 | SEA 3–2 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-01-27 | SEA 2–4 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 1A 5S |
| 2025-01-04 | SEA 2–4 EDM | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-02-06 | VGK 3–1 EDM | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-11-28 | VGK 4–5 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-05-14 · PO | VGK 5–2 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2023-05-12 · PO | VGK 4–3 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-05-10 · PO | VGK 1–4 EDM | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2023-05-08 · PO | VGK 5–1 EDM | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
Latest 12 of 26 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 CLikely vs Dustin Wolf (.899)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ EDM1.5 ptsOpp allows 12th-most FP to CLikely vs Tristan Jarry (.882)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs CGYB2B1.5 ptsOpp allows 2nd-most FP to CLikely vs Dustin Wolf (.899)
Mattias Ekholm
3games (1 left)
1.1proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VANOpp allows 5th-most FP to DLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 5th-most FP to DLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.1 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to DLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Chandler Stephenson or Mattias Ekholm in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Chandler Stephenson projects to 1.47 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mattias Ekholm's 1.43. Stephenson had 49 points in 80 games; Ekholm had 41 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, Chandler Stephenson or Mattias Ekholm?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mattias Ekholm leads in 19 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 Ekholm done against each other?
- In 26 games against each other in our data, Stephenson's team went 12–14. Stephenson had 20 points (10 goals) and Ekholm had 16 (4 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 →