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Who to start · 2025-26

Kirill Kaprizov vs Nikolaj Ehlers

Kirill KaprizovKirill KaprizovWild · Left wingvsNikolaj EhlersNikolaj EhlersHurricanes · Left wing

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Kirill Kaprizov projects to 2.50 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Nikolaj Ehlers's 1.65.

Kaprizov had 89 points in 78 games; Ehlers had 71 in 82 games.

This week Kaprizov has 1 game left; Ehlers has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Kaprizov for 1.9 ESPN points to Ehlers's 1.8.

Nikolaj Ehlers has the better number in 18 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

Kaprizov's biggest edges: On-ice PDO 1013, Ice-time share 36.3%, Ice time per game 22:09.

Ehlers's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.024, Goals above expected +3.6, 20+ mph bursts 182.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Kirill Kaprizov

2.50

fantasy points per game

Nikolaj Ehlers

1.65

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Kirill Kaprizov has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromKaprizovEhlers
Goals (+2)1.210.56
Assists (+1)0.530.48
Power-play points (+0.5)0.190.15
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.000.00
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.340.26
Hits (+0.1)0.070.03
Blocks (+0.5)0.160.16

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: Kaprizov vs Ehlers

Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.

KaprizovEhlers
4Team record in 12 meetings8
16Points in those games5

Kaprizov 5G 11A, 42 SOG · Ehlers 2G 3A, 31 SOG

0Hits on each other2

On the ice against each other (Kaprizov's side)

9:19 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Kaprizov's side

Shot attempts
4–8
33.3%
Expected goals
0.2–0.5
23.8%
Goals
1–1

Games against each other

Games between Kirill Kaprizov and Nikolaj Ehlers
DateScoreKaprizovEhlers
2025-11-19MIN 4–3 CAR0G 1A 2S0G 1A 2S
2025-11-06MIN 3–4 CAR0G 1A 2S1G 0A 4S
2024-12-21MIN 0–5 WPG0G 0A 3S1G 0A 3S
2024-11-25MIN 1–4 WPG0G 0A 5S0G 0A 2S
2024-10-13MIN 1–2 WPG0G 0A 4S0G 0A 2S
2024-04-06MIN 2–4 WPG2G 0A 5S0G 0A 3S
2024-02-20MIN 3–6 WPG1G 1A 3S0G 1A 2S
2023-12-30MIN 2–4 WPG0G 1A 1S0G 0A 4S
2023-04-11MIN 1–3 WPG1G 0A 8S0G 0A 1S
2023-03-08MIN 4–2 WPG0G 1A 0S0G 1A 2S
2021-11-26MIN 7–1 WPG1G 3A 6S0G 0A 5S
2021-10-19MIN 6–5 WPG0G 3A 3S0G 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.

KaprizovEhlers

Fantasy box score

Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

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.

Kirill Kaprizov

2games (1 left)

1.9proj. ESPN pts

  • Thu, Oct 1 @ NSH
    Opp allows 12th-most FP to LWLikely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs BOS1.9 pts
    Opp allows 12th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge +12.8 win%Likely vs Michael DiPietro (1.000)

Nikolaj Ehlers

3games (1 left)

1.8proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 vs FLA
    Opp allows 13th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Jacob Markstrom (.883)
  • Fri, Oct 2 vs WSH
    Opp allows 10th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Logan Thompson (.912)
  • Sat, Oct 3 @ PHIB2B1.8 pts
    Opp allows 4th-most FP to LWSchedule edge −8.7 win%vs Joseph Woll (.899)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Kirill Kaprizov or Nikolaj Ehlers in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Kirill Kaprizov projects to 2.50 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Nikolaj Ehlers's 1.65. Kaprizov had 89 points in 78 games; Ehlers had 71 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, Kirill Kaprizov or Nikolaj Ehlers?
On 2025-26 numbers, Nikolaj Ehlers 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 Kaprizov and Ehlers done against each other?
In 12 games against each other in our data, Kaprizov's team went 4–8. Kaprizov had 16 points (5 goals) and Ehlers had 5 (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 →