Edgehalla

Who to start · 2025-26

Kirill Marchenko vs Nikolaj Ehlers

Kirill MarchenkoKirill MarchenkoMaple Leafs · Right wingvsNikolaj EhlersNikolaj EhlersHurricanes · Left wing

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Kirill Marchenko projects to 1.92 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Nikolaj Ehlers's 1.65.

Marchenko had 67 points in 76 games; Ehlers had 71 in 82 games.

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

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

Marchenko's biggest edges: On-ice PDO 1024, Penalty minutes 32, Hits 61.

Ehlers's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.024, Goals above expected +2.6, High-danger chances 54.1%.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 7 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Kirill Marchenko

1.92

fantasy points per game

Nikolaj Ehlers

1.65

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Kirill Marchenko has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromMarchenkoEhlers
Goals (+2)0.630.56
Assists (+1)0.520.48
Power-play points (+0.5)0.130.15
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.010.00
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.290.26
Hits (+0.1)0.110.03
Blocks (+0.5)0.230.16

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

Kirill Marchenko and Nikolaj Ehlers have no head-to-head events in our data yet (regular season and playoffs since 2019-20).

Every stat, side by side

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

MarchenkoEhlers

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 Marchenko

3games (1 left)

1.8proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 vs MTL
    Opp allows 9th-most FP to RWLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
  • Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2B
    Opp allows 10th-most FP to RWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT1.8 pts
    Likely vs Linus Ullmark (.891)

Nikolaj Ehlers

3games (1 left)

1.9proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 vs FLA
    Opp allows 13th-most FP to LWLikely vs Jacob Markstrom (.883)
  • Fri, Oct 2 vs WSH
    Likely vs Logan Thompson (.912)
  • Sat, Oct 3 @ PHIB2B1.9 pts
    Opp allows 4th-most FP to LWSchedule edge −12.8 win%Likely vs Dan Vladar (.906)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Kirill Marchenko or Nikolaj Ehlers in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Kirill Marchenko projects to 1.92 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Nikolaj Ehlers's 1.65. Marchenko had 67 points in 76 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 Marchenko 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.

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 →