Edgehalla

Who to start · 2026-27

Colton Dach vs Jesperi Kotkaniemi

Colton DachOilers · Centre
vs
Jesperi KotkaniemiHurricanes · Centre
Rising+3:41 TOI a game
SurgingOn-ice xGF/60 2.80 (was 1.98)

In 2026-27, Jesperi Kotkaniemi scored 1.12 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Colton Dach's 0.90.

Dach had 0 points in 6 games; Kotkaniemi had 5 in 10 games.

This week Dach has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Kotkaniemi has 1 left. In ESPN default points scoring we project Dach for 1.0 to Kotkaniemi's 0.9 over the games left.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi has the better number in 2 of the 2 stats both are ranked on.

Kotkaniemi's biggest edges: Luck Meter +69, Ascension score 70.

Role trend over the last 5 games: Dach is rising, +3:41 TOI a game; Kotkaniemi is surging, On-ice xGF/60 2.80 (was 1.98).

  • • Dach has played 6 of the Oilers' 10 games since Sep 29 (in and out of the lineup).
  • • Dach, last 6 games (Sep 29–Oct 22): 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 12 SOG.
  • • Kotkaniemi, last 10 games (Oct 3–Oct 22): 2 G, 3 A, 0 PPP, 10 SOG.

Edmonton Oilers · Carolina Hurricanes · Who should I start? · Compare other players

Fantasy value: your scoring

Colton Dach

0.0

category z-score total

Jesperi Kotkaniemi

0.0

category z-score total

Dead even under Standard (6 categories) (Dach wins 0, Kotkaniemi wins 0 of 6 categories).

Per-stat breakdown under Standard (6 categories)
CategoryDachKotkaniemi
Goals / game0.000.20
Assists / game0.000.30
Plus/minus / game-0.830.40
Power-play points / game0.000.00
Shots on goal / game2.001.00
Hits / game2.831.20

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 scoring choice is shared with Who Should I Start: saved on this device, and on your account when you are signed in.

Head-to-head: Dach vs Kotkaniemi

Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2024-25 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.

DachKotkaniemi
2Team record in 4 meetings2
0Points in those games2

Dach 0G 0A, 4 SOG · Kotkaniemi 1G 1A, 4 SOG

0Faceoffs against each other1

Dach's offensive zone 0–1 · neutral 0–0 · Dach's defensive zone 0–0 (2026-27)

2Hits on each other0
1Shots blocked by the other0

Dach blocked 1 of Kotkaniemi's shots; Kotkaniemi blocked 0 of Dach's.

On the ice against each other (Dach's side)

8:37 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27, from Dach's side

Shot attempts
2–10
16.7%
Expected goals
0.0–0.3
0.0%
Goals
0–1

Games against each other

Games between Colton Dach and Jesperi Kotkaniemi
DateScoreDachKotkaniemi
2026-10-22EDM 6–5 CAR0G 0A 0S0G 0A 0S
2026-01-22CHI 4–3 CAR0G 0A 0S0G 1A 2S
2025-01-30CHI 2–3 CAR0G 0A 3S0G 0A 1S
2025-01-20CHI 3–4 CAR0G 0A 1S1G 0A 1S

Every stat, side by side

Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.

DachKotkaniemi

Fantasy box score

Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs, Usage, Special teams & discipline, Luck & trend, NHL EDGE tracking continue below

Every stat, side by side (continued)

DachKotkaniemi

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

This week's schedule

Oct 19 to Oct 25. 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 cover the games left: Edgehalla's rest-of-season rates per game, adjusted for each opponent's scoring allowed, in ESPN default points.

Scored in ESPN default points (G 2, A 1, PPP 0.5, SHP 0.5, SOG 0.1, HIT 0.1, BLK 0.5). Use your league's scoring

Edmonton Oilers logo

Colton Dach

3games (1 left)

1.0proj. ESPN default pts

  • Tue, Oct 20 vs MIN
    Opp allows 14th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jesper Wallstedt (.915)
  • Thu, Oct 22 vs CAR
    Opp allows 2nd-fewest FP to CLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.865)
  • Sat, Oct 24 vs TOR1.0 pts
    Opp allows 10th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −2.7 win%Likely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.895)
Carolina Hurricanes logo

Jesperi Kotkaniemi

3games (1 left)

0.9proj. ESPN default pts

  • Tue, Oct 20 @ VAN
    Opp allows 5th-most FP to CLikely vs Leevi Meriläinen (.917)
  • Thu, Oct 22 @ EDM
    Opp allows 9th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Devon Levi (.887)
  • Sat, Oct 24 @ STL0.9 pts
    Opp allows 16th-most FP to CLikely vs Joel Hofer (.921)

FAQ

Should I start Colton Dach or Jesperi Kotkaniemi in fantasy hockey?
In 2026-27, Jesperi Kotkaniemi scored 1.12 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Colton Dach's 0.90. Dach had 0 points in 6 games; Kotkaniemi had 5 in 10 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, Colton Dach or Jesperi Kotkaniemi?
On 2026-27 numbers, Jesperi Kotkaniemi leads in 2 of 2 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
How have Dach and Kotkaniemi done against each other?
In 4 games against each other in our data, Dach's team went 2–2. Dach had 0 points (0 goals) and Kotkaniemi had 2 (1 goals).
Who wins more faceoffs, Dach or Kotkaniemi?
Against each other, Dach has won 0 and Kotkaniemi 1 of their 1 head-to-head draws.

2026-27 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 →