Who to start · 2025-26
Darnell Nurse vs Leon Draisaitl
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Leon Draisaitl projects to 2.96 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Darnell Nurse's 1.83.
Nurse had 24 points in 82 games; Draisaitl had 97 in 65 games.
This week Nurse has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Draisaitl has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Nurse for 2.1 ESPN points to Draisaitl's 2.0.
Leon Draisaitl has the better number in 28 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Nurse's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 0.90, Blocked shots 167, Hits 137.
Draisaitl's biggest edges: Ascension score 69, Plus/minus +13, Offensive-zone time 46.7%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 2 G, 2 A, 2 PPP, 10 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Darnell Nurse
1.83
fantasy points per game
Leon Draisaitl
2.96
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Leon Draisaitl has the edge.
| Points per game from | Nurse | Draisaitl |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.16 | 1.19 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.19 | 0.96 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.34 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.19 | 0.31 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.17 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 1.11 | 0.10 |
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: Nurse vs Draisaitl
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.
Nurse blocked 1 of Draisaitl's shots; Draisaitl blocked 2 of Nurse's.
Goals each scored with the other picking up an assist (as teammates).
On the ice together
478:20 at 5-on-5 over 70 games, 2025-26
- Shot attempts
- 470–485
- 49.2%
- Expected goals
- 20.6–23.1
- 47.1%
- Goals
- 24–24
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.
Darnell Nurse
2games (1 left)
2.1proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs FLAOpp allows 15th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Akira Schmid (.892)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs LAK2.1 ptsOpp allows 3rd-most FP to DSchedule edge +3.3 win%Likely vs Anton Forsberg (.910)
Leon Draisaitl
3games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VANOpp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA2.0 ptsOpp allows 6th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Darnell Nurse or Leon Draisaitl in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Leon Draisaitl projects to 2.96 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Darnell Nurse's 1.83. Nurse had 24 points in 82 games; Draisaitl had 97 in 65 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, Darnell Nurse or Leon Draisaitl?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Leon Draisaitl leads in 28 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
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 →