Who to start · 2025-26
JJ Peterka vs Kaapo Kakko
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, JJ Peterka projects to 1.29 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Kaapo Kakko's 1.27.
Peterka had 47 points in 82 games; Kakko had 40 in 65 games.
This week Peterka has 2 games left with 1 tough matchup; Kakko has 2 left with 1 soft and 1 tough matchups. In ESPN default points scoring we project Peterka for 2.7 to Kakko's 2.4 over the games left.
JJ Peterka has the better number in 21 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Peterka's biggest edges: 20+ mph bursts 212, Forecheck xG /60 0.35, Corsi 53.3%.
Kakko's biggest edges: On-ice PDO 1055, Hardest shot 87.3, Luck Meter +75.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Kaapo Kakko rates ahead, +1.1 to +0.5 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: Peterka is surging, 4 P in last 5 (0.45/GP before); Kakko is steady, On-ice xGF/60 3.34 (was 2.22).
- • 2026-27 so far: 10 GP, 3 G, 3 A, 0 PPP, 16 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 9 GP, 2 G, 6 A, 1 PPP, 8 SOG.
Boston Bruins · Seattle Kraken · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
JJ Peterka
+0.5
category z-score total
Kaapo Kakko
+1.1
category z-score total
Under Standard (6 categories), Kaapo Kakko has the edge (Peterka wins 2, Kakko wins 4 of 6 categories).
| Category | Peterka | Kakko |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.30 | 0.21 |
| Assists / game | 0.28 | 0.51 |
| Plus/minus / game | 0.16 | 0.22 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.04 | 0.12 |
| Shots on goal / game | 1.80 | 1.08 |
| Hits / game | 0.40 | 0.54 |
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 scoring choice is shared with Who Should I Start: saved on this device, and on your account when you are signed in.
Head-to-head: Peterka vs Kakko
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2022-23 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Peterka 6G 4A, 40 SOG · Kakko 3G 2A, 15 SOG
On the ice against each other (Peterka's side)
7:53 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Peterka's side
- Shot attempts
- 2–5
- 28.6%
- Expected goals
- 0.0–0.1
- 0.7%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Peterka | Kakko |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-02 | UTA 6–2 SEA | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2026-01-17 | UTA 6–3 SEA | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-12-12 | UTA 5–3 SEA | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-01-20 | BUF 4–6 SEA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-01-11 | BUF 2–6 SEA | 0G 2A 4S | 2G 0A 2S |
| 2024-12-11 | BUF 2–3 NYR | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-11-07 | BUF 6–1 NYR | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-11-27 | BUF 5–1 NYR | 1G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-10-12 | BUF 1–5 NYR | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-04-10 | BUF 3–2 NYR | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-03-31 | BUF 3–2 NYR | 1G 0A 5S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2023-03-11 | BUF 1–2 NYR | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 0S |
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
Oct 19 to Oct 25. 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 cover the games left: Edgehalla's rest-of-season rates per game, adjusted for each opponent's scoring allowed, in ESPN default points.
Scored in ESPN default points (G 2, A 1, PPP 0.5, SHP 0.5, SOG 0.1, HIT 0.1, BLK 0.5). Use your league's scoring
JJ Peterka
3games (2 left)
2.7proj. ESPN default pts
- Tue, Oct 20 @ DALOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Jake Oettinger (.899)
- Thu, Oct 22 vs NSH1.2 ptsOpp allows 6th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
- Sat, Oct 24 vs SJS1.5 ptsOpp allows 15th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)
Kaapo Kakko
3games (2 left)
2.4proj. ESPN default pts
- Tue, Oct 20 vs DETOpp allows 13th-most FP to RWLikely vs Daniil Tarasov (.895)
- Thu, Oct 22 vs UTA1.4 ptsOpp allows 10th-most FP to RWLikely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
- Sat, Oct 24 vs MIN1.0 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Jesper Wallstedt (.916)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start JJ Peterka or Kaapo Kakko in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, JJ Peterka projects to 1.29 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Kaapo Kakko's 1.27. Peterka had 47 points in 82 games; Kakko had 40 in 65 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, JJ Peterka or Kaapo Kakko?
- On 2025-26 numbers, JJ Peterka leads in 21 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Peterka and Kakko done against each other?
- In 12 games against each other in our data, Peterka's team went 7–5. Peterka had 10 points (6 goals) and Kakko had 5 (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 →