Who to start · 2025-26
Erik Karlsson vs Nick Suzuki
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nick Suzuki 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; Suzuki had 101 in 82 games.
This week Karlsson has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Suzuki has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Suzuki for 1.7 ESPN points to Karlsson's 1.3.
Nick Suzuki has the better number in 19 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Karlsson's biggest edges: Goals above expected +2.1, Net penalties drawn /60 0.00, High-danger chances 53.6%.
Suzuki's biggest edges: Blocked shots 62, Hits 62, Plus/minus +37.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Erik Karlsson
1.96
fantasy points per game
Nick Suzuki
2.43
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nick Suzuki has the edge.
| Points per game from | Karlsson | Suzuki |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.38 | 0.66 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.70 | 0.82 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.19 | 0.25 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.24 | 0.22 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.03 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.43 | 0.39 |
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 Suzuki
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2019-20 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Karlsson 2G 9A, 49 SOG · Suzuki 1G 9A, 23 SOG
Karlsson blocked 1 of Suzuki's shots; Suzuki blocked 3 of Karlsson's.
On the ice against each other (Karlsson's side)
20:46 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Karlsson's side
- Shot attempts
- 24–24
- 50.0%
- Expected goals
- 1.4–1.1
- 56.4%
- Goals
- 2–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Karlsson | Suzuki |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-21 | PIT 4–3 MTL | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-12-20 | PIT 0–4 MTL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-12-11 | PIT 2–4 MTL | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2024-12-12 | PIT 9–2 MTL | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2024-11-02 | PIT 3–1 MTL | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-10-14 | PIT 6–3 MTL | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2024-02-22 | PIT 4–1 MTL | 0G 2A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-01-27 | PIT 3–2 MTL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-12-13 | PIT 4–3 MTL | 0G 2A 7S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-02-28 | SJS 1–3 MTL | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2022-11-29 | SJS 4–0 MTL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2021-10-28 | SJS 0–4 MTL | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 2A 3S |
Latest 12 of 14 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 Dvs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Nick Suzuki
2games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ TOROpp allows 7th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ PIT1.7 ptsOpp allows the fewest FP to Cvs Arturs Silovs (.888)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Erik Karlsson or Nick Suzuki in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nick Suzuki 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; Suzuki had 101 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 Nick Suzuki?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nick Suzuki leads in 19 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 Suzuki done against each other?
- In 14 games against each other in our data, Karlsson's team went 10–4. Karlsson had 11 points (2 goals) and Suzuki had 10 (1 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 →