Who to start · 2025-26
Erik Karlsson vs Will Cuylle
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Erik Karlsson projects to 1.96 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Will Cuylle's 1.63.
Karlsson had 66 points in 75 games; Cuylle had 38 in 82 games.
This week Karlsson has 1 game left; Cuylle has 1 left. We project Karlsson for 1.9 ESPN points to Cuylle's 1.7.
Erik Karlsson has the better number in 25 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Karlsson's biggest edges: Goals above expected +2.1, Net penalties drawn /60 0.00, Plus/minus +8.
Cuylle's biggest edges: Hits 302, Blocked shots 68, Penalty minutes 65.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 8 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Erik Karlsson
1.96
fantasy points per game
Will Cuylle
1.63
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Erik Karlsson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Karlsson | Cuylle |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.38 | 0.41 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.70 | 0.24 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.19 | 0.07 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.24 | 0.20 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.03 | 0.37 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.43 | 0.35 |
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 Cuylle
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2023-24 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Karlsson 0G 5A, 17 SOG · Cuylle 3G 1A, 19 SOG
Karlsson blocked 3 of Cuylle's shots; Cuylle blocked 2 of Karlsson's.
On the ice against each other (Karlsson's side)
21:59 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Karlsson's side
- Shot attempts
- 24–29
- 45.3%
- Expected goals
- 2.1–1.0
- 69.3%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Karlsson | Cuylle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-28 | PIT 2–3 NYR | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-01-31 | PIT 6–5 NYR | 0G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-10-11 | PIT 1–6 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-10-07 | PIT 3–0 NYR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-02-23 | PIT 3–5 NYR | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-02-07 | PIT 3–2 NYR | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-12-06 | PIT 2–4 NYR | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-10-09 | PIT 0–6 NYR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-04-01 | PIT 5–2 NYR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-03-16 | PIT 4–7 NYR | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-11-22 | PIT 0–1 NYR | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 4S |
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)
1.9proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHI
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL1.9 pts
Will Cuylle
4games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Tue, Sep 29 @ BOS
- Thu, Oct 1 vs TBL
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2B
- Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA1.7 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Erik Karlsson or Will Cuylle 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 Will Cuylle's 1.63. Karlsson had 66 points in 75 games; Cuylle had 38 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 Will Cuylle?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Erik Karlsson leads in 25 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 Cuylle done against each other?
- In 11 games against each other in our data, Karlsson's team went 4–7. Karlsson had 5 points (0 goals) and Cuylle had 4 (3 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 →