Who to start · 2025-26
Josh Doan vs Matthew Knies
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Matthew Knies projects to 2.06 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Josh Doan's 1.47.
Doan had 52 points in 82 games; Knies had 66 in 79 games.
This week Doan has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Knies has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Doan for 1.8 ESPN points to Knies's 1.4.
Josh Doan has the better number in 21 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Doan's biggest edges: Expected goals 54.5%, Sequence xG 54.3%, Scoring chances 53.4%.
Knies's biggest edges: Ice-time share 30.8%, Ice time per game 18:48, Hits 152.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Josh Doan
1.47
fantasy points per game
Matthew Knies
2.06
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Matthew Knies has the edge.
| Points per game from | Doan | Knies |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.57 | 0.80 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.31 | 0.57 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.10 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.21 | 0.19 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.10 | 0.18 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.18 | 0.19 |
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: Doan vs Knies
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2024-25 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Doan 1G 1A, 16 SOG · Knies 3G 5A, 11 SOG
On the ice against each other (Doan's side)
20:40 at 5-on-5 over 5 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27, from Doan's side
- Shot attempts
- 26–13
- 66.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.9–0.8
- 53.3%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Doan | Knies |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-01 | BUF 3–6 CBJ | 0G 0A 3S | 2G 1A 4S |
| 2026-03-14 | BUF 3–2 TOR | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2026-01-27 | BUF 7–4 TOR | 1G 0A 5S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-10-25 | BUF 3–4 TOR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2025-10-24 | BUF 5–3 TOR | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-03-10 | UTA 3–4 TOR | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 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.
Josh Doan
2games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ CBJOpp allows 8th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CHI1.8 ptsOpp allows 4th-most FP to RWLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
Matthew Knies
2games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs BUFOpp allows 10th-most FP to LWLikely vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.910)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs UTA1.4 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Josh Doan or Matthew Knies in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Matthew Knies projects to 2.06 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Josh Doan's 1.47. Doan had 52 points in 82 games; Knies had 66 in 79 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, Josh Doan or Matthew Knies?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Josh Doan 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 Doan and Knies done against each other?
- In 6 games against each other in our data, Doan's team went 3–3. Doan had 2 points (1 goals) and Knies had 8 (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 →