Who to start · 2025-26
Erik Karlsson vs Leon Draisaitl
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Leon Draisaitl projects to 2.96 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Erik Karlsson's 1.96.
Karlsson had 66 points in 75 games; Draisaitl had 97 in 65 games.
This week Karlsson has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Draisaitl has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Draisaitl for 2.0 ESPN points to Karlsson's 1.3.
Leon Draisaitl has the better number in 21 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Karlsson's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 0.43, Net penalties drawn /60 0.00, Hardest shot 96.6.
Draisaitl's biggest edges: Ascension score 69, Sequence xG 55.4%, Penalty minutes 26.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 2 G, 2 A, 2 PPP, 10 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Erik Karlsson
1.96
fantasy points per game
Leon Draisaitl
2.96
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Leon Draisaitl has the edge.
| Points per game from | Karlsson | Draisaitl |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.38 | 1.19 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.70 | 0.96 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.19 | 0.34 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.24 | 0.31 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.03 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.43 | 0.10 |
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 Draisaitl
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2018-19 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Karlsson 5G 14A, 38 SOG · Draisaitl 10G 19A, 57 SOG
Karlsson blocked 1 of Draisaitl's shots; Draisaitl blocked 0 of Karlsson's.
On the ice against each other (Karlsson's side)
8:26 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Karlsson's side
- Shot attempts
- 8–5
- 61.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.4
- 49.0%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Karlsson | Draisaitl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-22 | PIT 6–2 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-12-16 | PIT 4–6 EDM | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 4A 3S |
| 2025-01-09 | PIT 5–3 EDM | 0G 1A 3S | 2G 0A 7S |
| 2024-10-25 | PIT 0–4 EDM | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-03-10 | PIT 0–4 EDM | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-03-03 | PIT 1–6 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 3A 3S |
| 2023-04-13 | SJS 2–5 EDM | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 2A 3S |
| 2023-04-08 | SJS 1–6 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-03-20 | SJS 4–5 EDM | 2G 0A 6S | 0G 2A 7S |
| 2023-01-13 | SJS 1–7 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 2A 5S |
| 2022-03-24 | SJS 2–5 EDM | 1G 1A 3S | 2G 0A 4S |
| 2020-02-06 | SJS 6–3 EDM | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
Latest 12 of 17 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 D
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL1.3 ptsOpp allows 7th-fewest FP to D
Leon Draisaitl
3games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VANOpp allows 6th-most FP to C
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 6th-most FP to C
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA2.0 ptsOpp allows 6th-fewest FP to C
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Erik Karlsson or Leon Draisaitl in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Leon Draisaitl projects to 2.96 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Erik Karlsson's 1.96. Karlsson had 66 points in 75 games; Draisaitl had 97 in 65 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 Leon Draisaitl?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Leon Draisaitl leads in 21 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Karlsson and Draisaitl done against each other?
- In 17 games against each other in our data, Karlsson's team went 6–11. Karlsson had 19 points (5 goals) and Draisaitl had 29 (10 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 →