Who to start · 2025-26
Drake Batherson vs Matthew Knies
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Matthew Knies projects to 2.06 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Drake Batherson's 2.01.
Batherson had 71 points in 79 games; Knies had 66 in 79 games.
This week Batherson has 1 game left; Knies has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Batherson for 1.7 ESPN points to Knies's 1.4.
Drake Batherson has the better number in 23 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Batherson's biggest edges: Corsi 55.2%, Expected goals 56.5%, Fenwick 54.8%.
Knies's biggest edges: On-ice PDO 1004, Blocked shots 32, Transition attempts /60 1.04.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Drake Batherson
2.01
fantasy points per game
Matthew Knies
1.80
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Drake Batherson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Batherson | Knies |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.84 | 0.58 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.48 | 0.54 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.19 | 0.09 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.21 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.15 | 0.19 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.14 | 0.20 |
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 custom weights are saved in this browser only.
Head-to-head: Batherson vs Knies
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2023-24 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Batherson 7G 6A, 38 SOG · Knies 7G 2A, 30 SOG
Batherson blocked 0 of Knies's shots; Knies blocked 1 of Batherson's.
On the ice against each other (Batherson's side)
21:31 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Batherson's side
- Shot attempts
- 31–6
- 83.8%
- Expected goals
- 1.8–0.3
- 86.6%
- Goals
- 3–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Batherson | Knies |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-15 | OTT 3–1 TOR | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-03-21 | OTT 5–2 TOR | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2026-02-28 | OTT 5–2 TOR | 2G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-12-27 | OTT 5–7 TOR | 1G 0A 4S | 2G 1A 6S |
| 2025-05-01 · PO | OTT 2–4 TOR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-04-29 · PO | OTT 4–0 TOR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2025-04-26 · PO | OTT 4–3 TOR | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-04-24 · PO | OTT 2–3 TOR | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2025-04-22 · PO | OTT 2–3 TOR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-04-20 · PO | OTT 2–6 TOR | 1G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-03-15 | OTT 4–2 TOR | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-11-12 | OTT 3–0 TOR | 0G 1A 6S | 0G 0A 1S |
Latest 12 of 16 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.
Drake Batherson
1games
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TOR1.7 ptsOpp allows 11th-most FP to RWLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
Matthew Knies
2games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs BUFOpp allows 8th-most FP to LWLikely vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.910)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs UTA1.4 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Drake Batherson or Matthew Knies in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Matthew Knies projects to 2.06 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Drake Batherson's 2.01. Batherson had 71 points in 79 games; Knies had 66 in 79 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 Matthew Knies?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Drake Batherson leads in 23 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 Knies done against each other?
- In 16 games against each other in our data, Batherson's team went 10–6. Batherson had 13 points (7 goals) and Knies had 9 (7 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 →