Who to start · 2025-26
Erik Karlsson vs Kirill Kaprizov
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Kirill Kaprizov projects to 2.50 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Erik Karlsson's 1.96.
Karlsson had 66 points in 75 games; Kaprizov had 89 in 78 games.
This week Karlsson has 1 game left; Kaprizov has 1 left. We project Kaprizov for 2.4 ESPN points to Karlsson's 1.6.
They split the 34 stats both are ranked on 16–16.
Karlsson's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 0, Luck Meter +53, Top skating speed 23.7.
Kaprizov's biggest edges: Ascension score 54, Hits 52, Penalty minutes 28.
- • 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, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Erik Karlsson
1.96
fantasy points per game
Kirill Kaprizov
2.50
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Kirill Kaprizov has the edge.
| Points per game from | Karlsson | Kaprizov |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.38 | 1.21 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.70 | 0.53 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.19 | 0.19 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.24 | 0.34 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.03 | 0.07 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.43 | 0.16 |
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: Karlsson vs Kaprizov
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2020-21 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Karlsson 4G 10A, 37 SOG · Kaprizov 8G 9A, 46 SOG
Karlsson blocked 0 of Kaprizov's shots; Kaprizov blocked 1 of Karlsson's.
On the ice against each other (Karlsson's side)
10:18 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Karlsson's side
- Shot attempts
- 5–12
- 29.4%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.3
- 47.4%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Karlsson | Kaprizov |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-21 | PIT 0–5 MIN | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2025-10-30 | PIT 4–1 MIN | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2024-10-29 | PIT 3–5 MIN | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 2A 7S |
| 2024-02-09 | PIT 2–3 MIN | 0G 1A 3S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2023-12-18 | PIT 4–3 MIN | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2022-12-22 | SJS 5–2 MIN | 1G 3A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-11-13 | SJS 3–2 MIN | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2021-12-09 | SJS 2–5 MIN | 0G 1A 4S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2021-11-16 | SJS 4–1 MIN | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2021-04-24 | SJS 3–6 MIN | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2021-04-17 | SJS 2–5 MIN | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2021-04-16 | SJS 2–3 MIN | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
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.
Erik Karlsson
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHI
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL1.6 pts
Kirill Kaprizov
2games (1 left)
2.4proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NSH
- Sat, Oct 3 vs BOS2.4 ptsSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Erik Karlsson or Kirill Kaprizov in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Kirill Kaprizov projects to 2.50 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Erik Karlsson's 1.96. Karlsson had 66 points in 75 games; Kaprizov had 89 in 78 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 Kirill Kaprizov?
- On 2025-26 numbers they split 16–16 across 34 stats where both qualify.
- How have Karlsson and Kaprizov done against each other?
- In 16 games against each other in our data, Karlsson's team went 8–8. Karlsson had 14 points (4 goals) and Kaprizov had 17 (8 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 →