Who to start · 2025-26
Cole Caufield vs Erik Karlsson
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Cole Caufield projects to 2.29 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Erik Karlsson's 1.96.
Caufield had 88 points in 81 games; Karlsson had 66 in 75 games.
This week Caufield has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Karlsson has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Caufield for 1.6 ESPN points to Karlsson's 1.3.
Cole Caufield has the better number in 20 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Caufield's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 −0.016, Hits 50, Plus/minus +29.
Karlsson's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 0, Top skating speed 23.7, 20+ mph bursts 153.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Cole Caufield
2.29
fantasy points per game
Erik Karlsson
1.96
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Cole Caufield has the edge.
| Points per game from | Caufield | Karlsson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.18 | 0.38 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.43 | 0.70 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.17 | 0.19 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.32 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.12 | 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: Caufield vs Karlsson
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.
Caufield 1G 3A, 31 SOG · Karlsson 2G 9A, 43 SOG
Caufield blocked 1 of Karlsson's shots; Karlsson blocked 1 of Caufield's.
On the ice against each other (Caufield's side)
21:24 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Caufield's side
- Shot attempts
- 25–18
- 58.1%
- Expected goals
- 1.3–1.0
- 57.9%
- Goals
- 0–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Caufield | Karlsson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-21 | MTL 3–4 PIT | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-12-20 | MTL 4–0 PIT | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-12-11 | MTL 4–2 PIT | 1G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2024-12-12 | MTL 2–9 PIT | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-11-02 | MTL 1–3 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2024-10-14 | MTL 3–6 PIT | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2024-02-22 | MTL 1–4 PIT | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 2A 4S |
| 2024-01-27 | MTL 2–3 PIT | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-12-13 | MTL 3–4 PIT | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 2A 7S |
| 2022-11-29 | MTL 0–4 SJS | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2021-10-28 | MTL 4–0 SJS | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2021-10-19 | MTL 0–5 SJS | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 2A 2S |
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.
Cole Caufield
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ TOROpp allows 16th-most FP to RWLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ PIT1.6 ptsOpp allows the fewest FP to RWvs Arturs Silovs (.888)
Erik Karlsson
2games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 2nd-most FP to DLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL1.3 ptsOpp allows 7th-fewest FP to Dvs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Cole Caufield or Erik Karlsson in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Cole Caufield projects to 2.29 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Erik Karlsson's 1.96. Caufield had 88 points in 81 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, Cole Caufield or Erik Karlsson?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Cole Caufield 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 Caufield and Karlsson done against each other?
- In 12 games against each other in our data, Caufield's team went 3–9. Caufield had 4 points (1 goals) and Karlsson had 11 (2 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 →