Who to start · 2025-26
Clayton Keller vs Erik Karlsson
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Clayton Keller projects to 2.15 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Erik Karlsson's 1.96.
Keller had 88 points in 82 games; Karlsson had 66 in 75 games.
This week Keller has 2 games left with 1 tough matchup; Karlsson has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Keller for 2.9 ESPN points to Karlsson's 1.3.
Clayton Keller has the better number in 20 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Keller's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 38, Ascension score 50, Blocked shots 32.
Karlsson's biggest edges: Goals above expected +2.1, Faceoffs won 0, Luck Meter +53.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 2 PPP, 4 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Clayton Keller
2.15
fantasy points per game
Erik Karlsson
1.96
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Clayton Keller has the edge.
| Points per game from | Keller | Karlsson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.59 | 0.38 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.83 | 0.70 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.19 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.28 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.01 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.21 | 0.43 |
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: Keller vs Karlsson
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.
Keller 5G 15A, 65 SOG · Karlsson 3G 19A, 69 SOG
Keller blocked 3 of Karlsson's shots; Karlsson blocked 7 of Keller's.
On the ice against each other (Keller's side)
15:41 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Keller's side
- Shot attempts
- 16–9
- 64.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.7–0.5
- 60.3%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Keller | Karlsson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-14 | UTA 3–4 PIT | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2025-12-14 | UTA 5–4 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-01-29 | UTA 2–3 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2024-11-23 | UTA 6–1 PIT | 0G 3A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2024-01-22 | ARI 5–2 PIT | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-12-12 | ARI 2–4 PIT | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-04-01 | ARI 2–7 SJS | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 4A 2S |
| 2023-01-10 | ARI 2–4 SJS | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2022-12-13 | ARI 2–3 SJS | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2022-03-30 | ARI 5–2 SJS | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-03-20 | ARI 2–4 SJS | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2021-12-28 | ARI 7–8 SJS | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 3S |
Latest 12 of 27 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.
Clayton Keller
3games (2 left)
2.9proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs CHIOpp allows 4th-most FP to RW
- Sat, Oct 3 @ CBJ1.4 ptsOpp allows 8th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge −1.0 win%
- Sun, Oct 4 @ NYRB2B1.4 ptsOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge −9.3 win%
Erik Karlsson
2games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 2nd-most FP to D
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL1.3 ptsOpp allows 7th-fewest FP to D
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Clayton Keller or Erik Karlsson in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Clayton Keller projects to 2.15 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Erik Karlsson's 1.96. Keller had 88 points in 82 games; Karlsson had 66 in 75 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, Clayton Keller or Erik Karlsson?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Clayton Keller leads in 20 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Keller and Karlsson done against each other?
- In 27 games against each other in our data, Keller's team went 14–13. Keller had 20 points (5 goals) and Karlsson had 22 (3 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 →