Who to start · 2025-26
Erik Karlsson vs Jack Hughes
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jack Hughes projects to 2.55 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Erik Karlsson's 1.96.
Karlsson had 66 points in 75 games; Hughes had 77 in 61 games.
This week Karlsson has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Hughes has 1 left. We project Hughes for 2.3 ESPN points to Karlsson's 1.3.
They split the 34 stats both are ranked on 17–17.
Karlsson's biggest edges: On-ice PDO 1017, Hardest shot 96.6, Goals above expected +2.1.
Hughes's biggest edges: Ascension score 51, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.016, Blocked shots 32.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Erik Karlsson
1.96
fantasy points per game
Jack Hughes
2.55
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Jack Hughes has the edge.
| Points per game from | Karlsson | Hughes |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.38 | 0.95 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.70 | 0.77 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.19 | 0.18 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.02 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.24 | 0.38 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.03 | 0.01 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.43 | 0.25 |
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: Karlsson vs Hughes
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Karlsson 5G 4A, 28 SOG · Hughes 4G 4A, 42 SOG
Karlsson blocked 3 of Hughes's shots; Hughes blocked 3 of Karlsson's.
On the ice against each other (Karlsson's side)
26:10 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Karlsson's side
- Shot attempts
- 21–20
- 51.2%
- Expected goals
- 0.9–0.7
- 56.2%
- Goals
- 3–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Karlsson | Hughes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-09 | PIT 5–2 NJD | 1G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2026-02-26 | PIT 4–1 NJD | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2026-01-08 | PIT 4–1 NJD | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-11-08 | PIT 1–2 NJD | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2025-02-04 | PIT 2–3 NJD | 0G 1A 2S | 2G 0A 5S |
| 2024-12-21 | PIT 0–3 NJD | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-04-02 | PIT 6–3 NJD | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-03-19 | PIT 2–5 NJD | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 2A 4S |
| 2023-01-16 | SJS 3–4 NJD | 1G 1A 4S | 1G 0A 7S |
| 2022-10-22 | SJS 1–2 NJD | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2021-11-30 | SJS 5–2 NJD | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 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.
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)
Jack Hughes
2games (1 left)
2.3proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs PHIOpp allows 7th-most FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Joseph Woll (.899)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NYI2.3 ptsOpp allows 15th-most FP to CSchedule edge −4.0 win%vs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Erik Karlsson or Jack Hughes in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jack Hughes projects to 2.55 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Erik Karlsson's 1.96. Karlsson had 66 points in 75 games; Hughes had 77 in 61 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 Jack Hughes?
- On 2025-26 numbers they split 17–17 across 34 stats where both qualify.
- How have Karlsson and Hughes done against each other?
- In 11 games against each other in our data, Karlsson's team went 5–6. Karlsson had 9 points (5 goals) and Hughes had 8 (4 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 →