Who to start · 2025-26
John Carlson vs Leon Draisaitl
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Leon Draisaitl projects to 2.96 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to John Carlson's 2.10.
Carlson had 60 points in 71 games; Draisaitl had 97 in 65 games.
This week Carlson has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Draisaitl has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Draisaitl for 2.0 ESPN points to Carlson's 1.6.
Leon Draisaitl has the better number in 22 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Carlson's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 0.96, Blocked shots 106, Hardest shot 99.8.
Draisaitl's biggest edges: 20+ mph bursts 154, Ascension score 69, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.051.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 2 G, 2 A, 2 PPP, 10 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
John Carlson
2.10
fantasy points per game
Leon Draisaitl
2.96
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Leon Draisaitl has the edge.
| Points per game from | Carlson | Draisaitl |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.37 | 1.19 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.61 | 0.96 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.09 | 0.34 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.23 | 0.31 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.76 | 0.10 |
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: Carlson vs Draisaitl
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.
Carlson 0G 20A, 44 SOG · Draisaitl 13G 19A, 60 SOG
Carlson blocked 3 of Draisaitl's shots; Draisaitl blocked 0 of Carlson's.
On the ice against each other (Carlson's side)
65:07 at 5-on-5 over 8 games, 2025-26, from Carlson's side
- Shot attempts
- 64–78
- 45.1%
- Expected goals
- 2.7–3.7
- 42.9%
- Goals
- 4–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Carlson | Draisaitl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-30 · PO | ANA 5–2 EDM | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2026-04-28 · PO | ANA 1–4 EDM | 0G 0A 4S | 2G 0A 4S |
| 2026-04-26 · PO | ANA 4–3 EDM | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2026-04-24 · PO | ANA 7–4 EDM | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2026-04-22 · PO | ANA 6–4 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2026-04-20 · PO | ANA 3–4 EDM | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2026-01-24 | WSH 5–6 EDM | 0G 2A 0S | 0G 3A 4S |
| 2025-11-19 | WSH 7–4 EDM | 0G 3A 3S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2025-02-23 | WSH 7–3 EDM | 0G 2A 1S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2025-01-21 | WSH 3–2 EDM | 0G 1A 0S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2024-03-13 | WSH 2–7 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 3A 7S |
| 2023-11-24 | WSH 0–5 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 2G 1A 3S |
Latest 12 of 20 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.
John Carlson
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 9th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH1.6 ptsOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to DSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)
Leon Draisaitl
3games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VANOpp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA2.0 ptsOpp allows 6th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start John Carlson or Leon Draisaitl in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Leon Draisaitl projects to 2.96 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to John Carlson's 2.10. Carlson had 60 points in 71 games; Draisaitl had 97 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, John Carlson or Leon Draisaitl?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Leon Draisaitl 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 Carlson and Draisaitl done against each other?
- In 20 games against each other in our data, Carlson's team went 11–9. Carlson had 20 points (0 goals) and Draisaitl had 32 (13 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 →