Who to start · 2026-27

Kirill Kaprizov vs Reid Schaefer

Kirill KaprizovWild · Left wing
vs
CoolingixG/60 0.97 (was 1.95)
SteadyOn-ice xGF/60 2.12 (was 1.48)

In 2026-27, Kirill Kaprizov scored 3.23 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Reid Schaefer's 0.79.

Kaprizov had 37 points in 22 games; Schaefer had 2 in 13 games.

This week Kaprizov has no games left; Schaefer has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. In ESPN default points scoring we project Schaefer for 1.0 to Kaprizov's 0.0 over the games left.

They split the 2 stats both are ranked on 1–1.

Kaprizov's biggest edges: Luck Meter +49.

Schaefer's biggest edges: Ascension score 72.

In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Kirill Kaprizov rates ahead, +10.5 to -3.5 in summed category z-scores.

Role trend over the last 5 games: Kaprizov is cooling, ixG/60 0.97 (was 1.95); Schaefer is steady, On-ice xGF/60 2.12 (was 1.48).

  • • Kaprizov, last 10 games (Oct 25–Nov 14): 5 G, 13 A, 8 PPP, 28 SOG.
  • • Schaefer has played 10 of the Predators' 14 games since Oct 15 (in and out of the lineup).
  • • Schaefer, last 10 games (Oct 15–Nov 13): 1 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 8 SOG.

Minnesota Wild · Nashville Predators · Who should I start? · Compare other players

Fantasy value: your scoring

Kirill Kaprizov

+10.5

category z-score total

Reid Schaefer

-3.5

category z-score total

Under Standard (6 categories), Kirill Kaprizov has the edge (Kaprizov wins 5, Schaefer wins 1 of 6 categories).

Per-stat breakdown under Standard (6 categories)
CategoryKaprizovSchaefer
Goals / game0.770.08
Assists / game0.910.08
Plus/minus / game0.820.08
Power-play points / game0.550.00
Shots on goal / game3.180.92
Hits / game0.452.00

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 scoring choice is shared with Who Should I Start: saved on this device, and on your account when you are signed in.

Head-to-head: Kaprizov vs Schaefer

Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2025-26 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.

KaprizovSchaefer
2Team record in 4 meetings2
3Points in those games0

Kaprizov 1G 2A, 16 SOG · Schaefer 0G 0A, 3 SOG

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

14:26 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27, from Kaprizov's side

Shot attempts
31–3
91.2%
Expected goals
1.5–0.1
95.0%
Goals
1–0

Games against each other

Games between Kirill Kaprizov and Reid Schaefer
DateScoreKaprizovSchaefer
2026-10-01MIN 3–1 NSH1G 0A 3S0G 0A 1S
2026-04-11MIN 1–2 NSH0G 0A 0S0G 0A 1S
2026-02-04MIN 6–5 NSH0G 1A 5S0G 0A 1S
2025-12-23MIN 2–3 NSH0G 1A 8S0G 0A 0S

Every stat, side by side

Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.

KaprizovSchaefer

Fantasy box score

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs, Usage, Special teams & discipline, Luck & trend, NHL EDGE tracking continue below

Every stat, side by side (continued)

KaprizovSchaefer

Special teams & discipline

This week's schedule

Nov 9 to Nov 15. 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 cover the games left: Edgehalla's rest-of-season rates per game, adjusted for each opponent's scoring allowed, in ESPN default points.

Scored in ESPN default points (G 2, A 1, PPP 0.5, SHP 0.5, SOG 0.1, HIT 0.1, BLK 0.5). Use your league's scoring

Minnesota Wild logo

Kirill Kaprizov

3games (0 left)

0.0proj. ESPN default pts

Nashville Predators logo

Reid Schaefer

4games (1 left)

1.0proj. ESPN default pts

  • Tue, Nov 10 @ LAK
    Opp allows 6th-most FP to LWLikely vs Anton Forsberg (.908)
  • Wed, Nov 11 @ ANAB2B
    Opp allows 4th-most FP to LWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Laurent Brossoit (.867)
  • Fri, Nov 13 @ VGK
    Opp allows 8th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Adin Hill (.908)
  • Sun, Nov 15 @ SJS1.0 pts
    Opp allows 3rd-most FP to LWSchedule edge +12.6 win%Likely vs Alex Nedeljkovic (.895)

Player data stories

How the game changed, told through the numbers.

All NHL data stories

FAQ

Should I start Kirill Kaprizov or Reid Schaefer in fantasy hockey?
In 2026-27, Kirill Kaprizov scored 3.23 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Reid Schaefer's 0.79. Kaprizov had 37 points in 22 games; Schaefer had 2 in 13 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 Reid Schaefer?
On 2026-27 numbers they split 1–1 across 2 stats where both qualify.
How have Kaprizov and Schaefer done against each other?
In 4 games against each other in our data, Kaprizov's team went 2–2. Kaprizov had 3 points (1 goals) and Schaefer had 0 (0 goals).

2026-27 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 →