Who to start · 2025-26
Josh Manson vs Mattias Ekholm
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Josh Manson projects to 1.48 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mattias Ekholm's 1.43.
Manson had 31 points in 79 games; Ekholm had 41 in 82 games.
This week Manson has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Ekholm has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Manson for 1.1 ESPN points to Ekholm's 1.1.
Mattias Ekholm has the better number in 20 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Manson's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 91, Hits 174, On-ice PDO 1014.
Ekholm's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 59.6%, Net penalties drawn /60 −0.21, Offensive-zone time 45.7%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Josh Manson
1.48
fantasy points per game
Mattias Ekholm
1.43
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Josh Manson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Manson | Ekholm |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.12 | 0.13 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.37 | 0.38 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.02 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.16 | 0.15 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.21 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.62 | 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: Manson 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.
Manson 1G 4A, 36 SOG · Ekholm 3G 7A, 35 SOG
Manson blocked 2 of Ekholm's shots; Ekholm blocked 1 of Manson's.
On the ice against each other (Manson's side)
8:12 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Manson's side
- Shot attempts
- 3–10
- 23.1%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.5
- 31.2%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Manson | Ekholm |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-10 | COL 3–4 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-11-08 | COL 9–1 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-01-16 | COL 3–4 EDM | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-04-05 | COL 2–6 EDM | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2024-03-16 | COL 3–2 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-11-10 | COL 5–3 NSH | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-05-09 · PO | COL 5–3 NSH | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2022-05-07 · PO | COL 7–3 NSH | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2022-05-05 · PO | COL 2–1 NSH | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-05-03 · PO | COL 7–2 NSH | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-04-28 | COL 4–5 NSH | 0G 1A 0S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2021-11-22 | ANA 2–3 NSH | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
Latest 12 of 21 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.
Josh Manson
2games (1 left)
1.1proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows 3rd-most FP to DLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL1.1 ptsOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to DSchedule edge +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
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 Josh Manson or Mattias Ekholm in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Josh Manson projects to 1.48 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mattias Ekholm's 1.43. Manson had 31 points in 79 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, Josh Manson or Mattias Ekholm?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mattias Ekholm leads in 20 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Manson and Ekholm done against each other?
- In 21 games against each other in our data, Manson's team went 11–10. Manson had 5 points (1 goals) and Ekholm had 10 (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 →