Who to start · 2025-26
Drake Batherson vs Joel Eriksson Ek
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Drake Batherson projects to 2.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Joel Eriksson Ek's 1.70.
Batherson had 71 points in 79 games; Eriksson Ek had 51 in 70 games.
This week Batherson has 1 game left; Eriksson Ek has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Batherson for 1.7 ESPN points to Eriksson Ek's 1.3.
Drake Batherson has the better number in 20 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Batherson's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 76.7%, Forecheck xG /60 0.32, Goals above expected +5.9.
Eriksson Ek's biggest edges: On-ice PDO 1037, Plus/minus +16, Faceoffs won 681.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Drake Batherson
2.01
fantasy points per game
Joel Eriksson Ek
1.79
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Drake Batherson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Batherson | Eriksson Ek |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.84 | 0.54 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.48 | 0.46 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.19 | 0.11 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.21 | 0.28 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.15 | 0.15 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.14 | 0.24 |
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: Batherson vs Eriksson Ek
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2018-19 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Batherson 4G 8A, 25 SOG · Eriksson Ek 1G 4A, 24 SOG
Batherson's offensive zone 2–1 · neutral 1–0 · Batherson's defensive zone 0–0 (2021-22 to 2022-23)
Batherson blocked 0 of Eriksson Ek's shots; Eriksson Ek blocked 1 of Batherson's.
On the ice against each other (Batherson's side)
3:49 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Batherson's side
- Shot attempts
- 6–1
- 85.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.7–0.0
- 95.4%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Batherson | Eriksson Ek |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-04 | OTT 1–4 MIN | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-12-13 | OTT 2–3 MIN | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-02-01 | OTT 6–0 MIN | 1G 2A 6S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-12-29 | OTT 3–1 MIN | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-04-02 | OTT 2–3 MIN | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-11-18 | OTT 2–1 MIN | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-12-18 | OTT 2–4 MIN | 0G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-10-27 | OTT 2–4 MIN | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2021-11-02 | OTT 4–5 MIN | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2018-11-21 | OTT 4–6 MIN | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 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.
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.
Drake Batherson
1games
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TOR1.7 ptsOpp allows 11th-most FP to RWLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
Joel Eriksson Ek
2games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NSHOpp allows 7th-most FP to CLikely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs BOS1.3 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +12.8 win%Likely vs Michael DiPietro (1.000)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Drake Batherson or Joel Eriksson Ek in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Drake Batherson projects to 2.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Joel Eriksson Ek's 1.70. Batherson had 71 points in 79 games; Eriksson Ek had 51 in 70 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, Drake Batherson or Joel Eriksson Ek?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Drake Batherson leads in 20 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Batherson and Eriksson Ek done against each other?
- In 10 games against each other in our data, Batherson's team went 3–7. Batherson had 12 points (4 goals) and Eriksson Ek had 5 (1 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Batherson or Eriksson Ek?
- Against each other, Batherson has won 3 and Eriksson Ek 1 of their 4 head-to-head draws.
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 →