Who to start · 2025-26
John Carlson vs Robert Thomas
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, John Carlson projects to 2.10 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Robert Thomas's 1.89.
Carlson had 60 points in 71 games; Thomas had 64 in 64 games.
This week Carlson has 1 game left; Thomas has 1 left. We project Carlson for 2.1 ESPN points to Thomas's 2.0.
Robert Thomas has the better number in 18 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Carlson's biggest edges: Hardest shot 99.8, Transition attempts /60 0.96, Shots on goal 153.
Thomas's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 −0.004, On-ice PDO 1045, Shorthanded points 3.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
John Carlson
2.10
fantasy points per game
Robert Thomas
1.89
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, John Carlson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Carlson | Thomas |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.37 | 0.73 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.61 | 0.57 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.09 | 0.10 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.02 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.23 | 0.15 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.01 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.76 | 0.29 |
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 Thomas
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.
Carlson 3G 6A, 19 SOG · Thomas 2G 8A, 10 SOG
Carlson blocked 1 of Thomas's shots; Thomas blocked 0 of Carlson's.
On the ice against each other (Carlson's side)
9:23 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Carlson's side
- Shot attempts
- 6–13
- 31.6%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.7
- 44.0%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Carlson | Thomas |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-03 | ANA 2–6 STL | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 2A 1S |
| 2025-11-05 | WSH 6–1 STL | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-02-27 | WSH 2–5 STL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-01-20 | WSH 0–3 STL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2024-01-18 | WSH 5–2 STL | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-11-17 | WSH 4–5 STL | 2G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-01-07 | WSH 1–5 STL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2019-10-02 | WSH 3–2 STL | 0G 2A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2019-01-03 | WSH 2–5 STL | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 1S |
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)
2.1proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYR
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH2.1 pts
Robert Thomas
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DAL
- Sat, Oct 3 @ COLB2B2.0 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start John Carlson or Robert Thomas in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, John Carlson projects to 2.10 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Robert Thomas's 1.89. Carlson had 60 points in 71 games; Thomas had 64 in 64 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 Robert Thomas?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Robert Thomas leads in 18 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 Thomas done against each other?
- In 9 games against each other in our data, Carlson's team went 3–6. Carlson had 9 points (3 goals) and Thomas had 10 (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 →