Who to start · 2025-26
Lawson Crouse vs William Eklund
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Lawson Crouse projects to 1.65 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to William Eklund's 1.62.
Crouse had 44 points in 81 games; Eklund had 53 in 78 games.
This week Crouse has 2 games left; Eklund has 1 left. We project Crouse for 3.0 ESPN points to Eklund's 1.6.
Lawson Crouse has the better number in 23 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Crouse's biggest edges: Plus/minus +20, Goals above expected +3.5, Luck Meter +45.
Eklund's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 45.9%, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.37, Power-play points 16.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Lawson Crouse
1.61
fantasy points per game
William Eklund
1.62
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, William Eklund has the edge.
| Points per game from | Crouse | Eklund |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.59 | 0.38 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.25 | 0.49 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.10 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.17 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.26 | 0.09 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.32 | 0.33 |
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: Crouse vs Eklund
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2023-24 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Crouse 4G 3A, 16 SOG · Eklund 0G 5A, 16 SOG
Crouse blocked 1 of Eklund's shots; Eklund blocked 0 of Crouse's.
On the ice against each other (Crouse's side)
3:11 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Crouse's side
- Shot attempts
- 6–1
- 85.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.0
- 95.1%
- Goals
- 3–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Crouse | Eklund |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-01 | UTA 3–6 SJS | 2G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2025-11-18 | UTA 2–3 SJS | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-10-17 | UTA 6–3 SJS | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-01-10 | UTA 2–1 SJS | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-12-14 | UTA 4–3 SJS | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-10-28 | UTA 4–5 SJS | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-04-07 | ARI 5–2 SJS | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-12-21 | ARI 5–2 SJS | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-12-15 | ARI 1–0 SJS | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 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.
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.
Lawson Crouse
3games (2 left)
3.0proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs CHI
- Sat, Oct 3 @ CBJ1.5 ptsSchedule edge −1.0 win%
- Sun, Oct 4 @ NYRB2B1.5 ptsSchedule edge −9.3 win%
William Eklund
1games
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TOR1.6 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Lawson Crouse or William Eklund in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Lawson Crouse projects to 1.65 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to William Eklund's 1.62. Crouse had 44 points in 81 games; Eklund had 53 in 78 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, Lawson Crouse or William Eklund?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Lawson Crouse leads in 23 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Crouse and Eklund done against each other?
- In 9 games against each other in our data, Crouse's team went 6–3. Crouse had 7 points (4 goals) and Eklund had 5 (0 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 →