Who to start · 2025-26
Erik Karlsson vs Noah Dobson
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Noah Dobson projects to 2.17 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Erik Karlsson's 1.96.
Karlsson had 66 points in 75 games; Dobson had 47 in 80 games.
This week Karlsson has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Dobson has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Dobson for 1.6 ESPN points to Karlsson's 1.3.
Erik Karlsson has the better number in 26 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Karlsson's biggest edges: High-danger chances 53.6%, Scoring chances 53.7%, Corsi 54.0%.
Dobson's biggest edges: Blocked shots 188, Hits 62, Ascension score 50.
- • 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, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Erik Karlsson
1.96
fantasy points per game
Noah Dobson
2.17
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Noah Dobson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Karlsson | Dobson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.38 | 0.28 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.70 | 0.41 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.19 | 0.04 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.24 | 0.19 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.03 | 0.07 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.43 | 1.16 |
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 Dobson
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 2G 3A, 34 SOG · Dobson 2G 4A, 39 SOG
Karlsson blocked 1 of Dobson's shots; Dobson blocked 4 of Karlsson's.
On the ice against each other (Karlsson's side)
16:40 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Karlsson's side
- Shot attempts
- 24–16
- 60.0%
- Expected goals
- 1.1–0.6
- 63.6%
- Goals
- 1–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Karlsson | Dobson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-21 | PIT 4–3 MTL | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-12-20 | PIT 0–4 MTL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-12-11 | PIT 2–4 MTL | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-03-18 | PIT 2–4 NYI | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2024-12-29 | PIT 3–2 NYI | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2024-12-28 | PIT 3–6 NYI | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-11-05 | PIT 3–4 NYI | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2024-02-20 | PIT 4–5 NYI | 0G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-12-31 | PIT 3–1 NYI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-12-27 | PIT 7–0 NYI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2023-03-18 | SJS 1–4 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2022-10-18 | SJS 2–5 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 5S |
Latest 12 of 13 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)
Noah Dobson
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ TOROpp allows 12th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ PIT1.6 ptsOpp allows the fewest FP to DLikely vs Arturs Silovs (.888)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Erik Karlsson or Noah Dobson in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Noah Dobson projects to 2.17 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Erik Karlsson's 1.96. Karlsson had 66 points in 75 games; Dobson had 47 in 80 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 Noah Dobson?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Erik Karlsson leads in 26 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 Dobson done against each other?
- In 13 games against each other in our data, Karlsson's team went 5–8. Karlsson had 5 points (2 goals) and Dobson had 6 (2 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 →