Who to start · 2025-26
Dylan Cozens vs Erik Karlsson
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Erik Karlsson projects to 1.96 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Dylan Cozens's 1.90.
Cozens had 59 points in 82 games; Karlsson had 66 in 75 games.
This week Cozens has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Karlsson has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Cozens for 1.4 ESPN points to Karlsson's 1.3.
Dylan Cozens has the better number in 18 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Cozens's biggest edges: Hits 215, Penalty minutes 59, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.001.
Karlsson's biggest edges: On-ice PDO 1017, Net penalties drawn /60 0.00, Luck Meter +53.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Dylan Cozens
1.90
fantasy points per game
Erik Karlsson
1.94
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Erik Karlsson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Cozens | Karlsson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.68 | 0.40 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 0.68 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.18 | 0.17 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.26 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.15 | 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: Cozens vs Karlsson
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2022-23 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Cozens 1G 3A, 33 SOG · Karlsson 3G 7A, 30 SOG
Cozens blocked 0 of Karlsson's shots; Karlsson blocked 2 of Cozens's.
On the ice against each other (Cozens's side)
18:58 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Cozens's side
- Shot attempts
- 19–12
- 61.3%
- Expected goals
- 1.0–0.3
- 78.6%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cozens | Karlsson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-26 | OTT 3–4 PIT | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 2A 8S |
| 2026-02-02 | OTT 3–2 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-12-18 | OTT 4–0 PIT | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-03-30 | OTT 0–1 PIT | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-01-17 | BUF 2–5 PIT | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-10-16 | BUF 5–6 PIT | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-01-06 | BUF 3–1 PIT | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-11-24 | BUF 3–2 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-11-11 | BUF 0–4 PIT | 0G 0A 4S | 2G 0A 4S |
| 2023-02-18 | BUF 4–2 SJS | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2022-12-04 | BUF 6–3 SJS | 0G 3A 6S | 0G 1A 4S |
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.
Dylan Cozens
1games
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TOR1.4 ptsOpp allows 7th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
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 Dylan Cozens or Erik Karlsson in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Erik Karlsson projects to 1.96 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Dylan Cozens's 1.90. Cozens had 59 points in 82 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, Dylan Cozens or Erik Karlsson?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Dylan Cozens leads in 18 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Cozens and Karlsson done against each other?
- In 11 games against each other in our data, Cozens's team went 6–5. Cozens had 4 points (1 goals) and Karlsson had 10 (3 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 →