Who to start · 2025-26
Jack Eichel vs Mattias Ekholm
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jack Eichel projects to 2.65 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mattias Ekholm's 1.43.
Eichel had 90 points in 74 games; Ekholm had 41 in 82 games.
This week Eichel has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Ekholm has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Eichel for 2.9 ESPN points to Ekholm's 1.1.
Jack Eichel has the better number in 22 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Eichel's biggest edges: Ascension score 62, 20+ mph bursts 370, Power-play share 80.6%.
Ekholm's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 −0.038, Hits 65, Forecheck xG /60 0.36.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 4 A, 2 PPP, 4 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Jack Eichel
2.65
fantasy points per game
Mattias Ekholm
1.43
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Jack Eichel has the edge.
| Points per game from | Eichel | Ekholm |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.76 | 0.13 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.99 | 0.38 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.23 | 0.02 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.33 | 0.15 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.27 | 0.67 |
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: Eichel vs Ekholm
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Eichel 9G 23A, 88 SOG · Ekholm 2G 9A, 41 SOG
Eichel blocked 1 of Ekholm's shots; Ekholm blocked 5 of Eichel's.
On the ice against each other (Eichel's side)
21:17 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Eichel's side
- Shot attempts
- 18–27
- 40.0%
- Expected goals
- 1.2–0.7
- 61.9%
- Goals
- 3–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Eichel | Ekholm |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-04 | VGK 5–1 EDM | 0G 3A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-03-26 | VGK 3–4 EDM | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2026-03-08 | VGK 2–4 EDM | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-12-14 | VGK 3–6 EDM | 0G 1A 5S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2024-12-03 | VGK 1–0 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-11-06 | VGK 4–2 EDM | 1G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-04-10 | VGK 1–5 EDM | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2023-11-28 | VGK 4–5 EDM | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-05-14 · PO | VGK 5–2 EDM | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2023-05-12 · PO | VGK 4–3 EDM | 1G 2A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-05-10 · PO | VGK 1–4 EDM | 0G 0A 5S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2023-05-08 · PO | VGK 5–1 EDM | 1G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
Latest 12 of 24 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.
Jack Eichel
3games (1 left)
2.9proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs CHIOpp allows 8th-most FP to CLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs ANAOpp allows 9th-most FP to CLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ VAN2.9 ptsOpp allows 6th-most FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
Mattias Ekholm
3games (1 left)
1.1proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VANOpp allows 5th-most FP to DLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 5th-most FP to DLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.1 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to DLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Jack Eichel or Mattias Ekholm in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jack Eichel projects to 2.65 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mattias Ekholm's 1.43. Eichel had 90 points in 74 games; Ekholm had 41 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, Jack Eichel or Mattias Ekholm?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Jack Eichel leads in 22 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Eichel and Ekholm done against each other?
- In 24 games against each other in our data, Eichel's team went 12–12. Eichel had 32 points (9 goals) and Ekholm had 11 (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 →