Who to start · 2025-26
Erik Karlsson vs Kyle Connor
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Kyle Connor projects to 2.43 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Erik Karlsson's 1.96.
Karlsson had 66 points in 75 games; Connor had 92 in 82 games.
This week Karlsson has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Connor has 2 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Connor for 3.6 ESPN points to Karlsson's 1.3.
Erik Karlsson has the better number in 20 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Karlsson's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 0, Top skating speed 23.7, Forecheck xG /60 0.32.
Connor's biggest edges: Shorthanded points 2, Offensive-zone start % 71.2%, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.028.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 9 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Erik Karlsson
1.96
fantasy points per game
Kyle Connor
2.43
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Kyle Connor has the edge.
| Points per game from | Karlsson | Connor |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.38 | 1.02 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.70 | 0.67 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.19 | 0.14 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.24 | 0.37 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.03 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.43 | 0.17 |
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 Connor
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Karlsson 4G 12A, 35 SOG · Connor 6G 7A, 63 SOG
Karlsson blocked 3 of Connor's shots; Connor blocked 3 of Karlsson's.
On the ice against each other (Karlsson's side)
22:01 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Karlsson's side
- Shot attempts
- 23–23
- 50.0%
- Expected goals
- 1.4–0.9
- 62.3%
- Goals
- 2–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Karlsson | Connor |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-21 | PIT 5–4 WPG | 2G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2025-11-01 | PIT 2–5 WPG | 0G 1A 3S | 2G 0A 8S |
| 2024-11-22 | PIT 1–4 WPG | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2024-10-20 | PIT 3–6 WPG | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2024-02-10 | PIT 1–2 WPG | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-02-06 | PIT 3–0 WPG | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2023-04-10 | SJS 2–6 WPG | 2G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2023-03-28 | SJS 3–0 WPG | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2023-03-06 | SJS 3–2 WPG | 0G 2A 3S | 0G 1A 6S |
| 2021-10-16 | SJS 4–3 WPG | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2020-02-14 | SJS 3–2 WPG | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 6S |
| 2019-11-27 | SJS 1–5 WPG | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 1A 3S |
Latest 12 of 15 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)
1.3proj. 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 DLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Kyle Connor
2games
3.6proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs BOS1.6 ptsOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to LW
- Sun, Oct 4 @ DET2.0 ptsSchedule edge −2.9 win%Likely vs John Gibson (.901)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Erik Karlsson or Kyle Connor in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Kyle Connor projects to 2.43 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Erik Karlsson's 1.96. Karlsson had 66 points in 75 games; Connor had 92 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 Kyle Connor?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Erik Karlsson leads in 20 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Karlsson and Connor done against each other?
- In 15 games against each other in our data, Karlsson's team went 6–9. Karlsson had 16 points (4 goals) and Connor had 13 (6 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 →