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Who to start · 2025-26

Erik Karlsson vs Ian Cole

Erik KarlssonErik KarlssonPenguins · DefencevsIan ColeIan ColeBlackhawks · Defence

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Erik Karlsson projects to 1.96 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30.

Karlsson had 66 points in 75 games; Cole had 23 in 82 games.

This week Karlsson has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Cole has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Cole for 1.5 ESPN points to Karlsson's 1.3.

Erik Karlsson has the better number in 23 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

Karlsson's biggest edges: Power-play time per game 3:18, Offensive-zone time 45.4%, Power-play share 74.2%.

Cole's biggest edges: Blocked shots 151, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.019, Hits 73.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 3 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Erik Karlsson

1.96

fantasy points per game

Ian Cole

1.30

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Erik Karlsson has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromKarlssonCole
Goals (+2)0.380.06
Assists (+1)0.700.22
Power-play points (+0.5)0.190.00
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.000.01
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.240.07
Hits (+0.1)0.030.08
Blocks (+0.5)0.430.87

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

Erik Karlsson and Ian Cole have no head-to-head events in our data yet (regular season and playoffs since 2019-20).

Every stat, side by side

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

KarlssonCole

Fantasy box score

Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

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.

Erik Karlsson

2games (1 left)

1.3proj. ESPN pts

  • Wed, Sep 30 @ PHI
    Opp allows 2nd-most FP to DLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL1.3 pts
    Opp allows 7th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)

Ian Cole

3games (1 left)

1.5proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 @ VGK
    Opp allows 5th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Carter Hart (.891)
  • Thu, Oct 1 @ UTA
    Opp allows 2nd-fewest FP to DLikely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
  • Sat, Oct 3 @ BUF1.5 pts
    Opp allows 8th-most FP to DSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.910)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Erik Karlsson or Ian Cole 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 Ian Cole's 1.30. Karlsson had 66 points in 75 games; Cole had 23 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, Erik Karlsson or Ian Cole?
On 2025-26 numbers, Erik Karlsson leads in 23 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 →