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Who to start · 2025-26

Emil Heineman vs Nikolaj Ehlers

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikolaj Ehlers projects to 1.65 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Emil Heineman's 1.57.

Heineman had 31 points in 82 games; Ehlers had 71 in 82 games.

This week Heineman has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Ehlers has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Ehlers for 1.8 ESPN points to Heineman's 1.2.

Nikolaj Ehlers has the better number in 25 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

Heineman's biggest edges: Hits 247, Blocked shots 54, Penalty minutes 18.

Ehlers's biggest edges: High-danger chances 54.1%, Plus/minus +8, Assists 45.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Emil Heineman

1.57

fantasy points per game

Nikolaj Ehlers

1.65

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Nikolaj Ehlers has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromHeinemanEhlers
Goals (+2)0.630.56
Assists (+1)0.100.48
Power-play points (+0.5)0.020.15
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.000.00
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.210.26
Hits (+0.1)0.300.03
Blocks (+0.5)0.310.16

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: Heineman vs Ehlers

Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2025-26 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.

HeinemanEhlers
0Team record in 3 meetings3
0Points in those games2

Heineman 0G 0A, 7 SOG · Ehlers 1G 1A, 10 SOG

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

13:24 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Heineman's side

Shot attempts
5–20
20.0%
Expected goals
0.4–0.9
31.5%
Goals
0–2

Games against each other

Games between Emil Heineman and Nikolaj Ehlers
DateScoreHeinemanEhlers
2026-04-14NYI 1–2 CAR0G 0A 2S1G 0A 5S
2026-04-04NYI 3–4 CAR0G 0A 0S0G 0A 3S
2025-10-30NYI 2–6 CAR0G 0A 5S0G 1A 2S

Every stat, side by side

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

HeinemanEhlers

Fantasy box score

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.

Emil Heineman

2games (1 left)

1.2proj. ESPN pts

  • Wed, Sep 30 @ TOR
    Opp allows 11th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Anthony Stolarz (.893)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs NJD1.2 pts
    Opp allows 9th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Jake Allen (.904)

Nikolaj Ehlers

3games (1 left)

1.8proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 vs FLA
    Opp allows 13th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Jacob Markstrom (.883)
  • Fri, Oct 2 vs WSH
    Opp allows 10th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Logan Thompson (.912)
  • Sat, Oct 3 @ PHIB2B1.8 pts
    Opp allows 4th-most FP to LWSchedule edge −8.7 win%vs Joseph Woll (.899)

FAQ

Should I start Emil Heineman or Nikolaj Ehlers in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikolaj Ehlers projects to 1.65 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Emil Heineman's 1.57. Heineman had 31 points in 82 games; Ehlers had 71 in 82 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, Emil Heineman or Nikolaj Ehlers?
On 2025-26 numbers, Nikolaj Ehlers leads in 25 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
How have Heineman and Ehlers done against each other?
In 3 games against each other in our data, Heineman's team went 0–3. Heineman had 0 points (0 goals) and Ehlers had 2 (1 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 →