Who to start · 2025-26
Erik Karlsson vs Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Erik Karlsson projects to 1.96 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins's 1.70.
Karlsson had 66 points in 75 games; Nugent-Hopkins had 56 in 72 games.
This week Karlsson has 1 game left; Nugent-Hopkins has 1 left. We project Karlsson for 1.6 ESPN points to Nugent-Hopkins's 1.4.
Erik Karlsson has the better number in 19 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Karlsson's biggest edges: 20+ mph bursts 153, On-ice PDO 1017, Net penalties drawn /60 0.00.
Nugent-Hopkins's biggest edges: Blocked shots 31, Shorthanded points 1, Forecheck xG /60 0.34.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Erik Karlsson
1.94
fantasy points per game
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
1.70
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Erik Karlsson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Karlsson | Nugent-Hopkins |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.40 | 0.56 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.68 | 0.50 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.17 | 0.20 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.23 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.03 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.43 | 0.22 |
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 Nugent-Hopkins
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 · Nugent-Hopkins 6G 9A, 46 SOG
Karlsson blocked 0 of Nugent-Hopkins's shots; Nugent-Hopkins blocked 1 of Karlsson's.
On the ice against each other (Karlsson's side)
10:06 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Karlsson's side
- Shot attempts
- 12–11
- 52.2%
- Expected goals
- 1.2–0.4
- 76.6%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Karlsson | Nugent-Hopkins |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-22 | PIT 6–2 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-12-16 | PIT 4–6 EDM | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-01-09 | PIT 5–3 EDM | 0G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2024-10-25 | PIT 0–4 EDM | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2024-03-10 | PIT 0–4 EDM | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2024-03-03 | PIT 1–6 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-04-13 | SJS 2–5 EDM | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-04-08 | SJS 1–6 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 2A 4S |
| 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 2S |
| 2022-04-05 | SJS 1–2 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2022-03-24 | SJS 2–5 EDM | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 7S |
Latest 12 of 18 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
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
3games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VAN
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VAN
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.4 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Erik Karlsson or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Erik Karlsson projects to 1.96 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins's 1.70. Karlsson had 66 points in 75 games; Nugent-Hopkins had 56 in 72 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 Ryan Nugent-Hopkins?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Erik Karlsson leads in 19 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 Nugent-Hopkins done against each other?
- In 18 games against each other in our data, Karlsson's team went 6–12. Karlsson had 19 points (5 goals) and Nugent-Hopkins had 15 (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 →