Who to start · 2025-26
Leon Draisaitl vs Matthew Knies
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Leon Draisaitl projects to 2.96 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Matthew Knies's 2.06.
Draisaitl had 97 points in 65 games; Knies had 66 in 79 games.
This week Draisaitl has 1 game left; Knies has 1 left. We project Draisaitl for 2.8 ESPN points to Knies's 1.8.
Leon Draisaitl has the better number in 24 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Draisaitl's biggest edges: Plus/minus +13, Faceoffs won 628, Fenwick 54.4%.
Knies's biggest edges: Hits 152, Blocked shots 32, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.20.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 2 G, 2 A, 2 PPP, 10 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Leon Draisaitl
2.96
fantasy points per game
Matthew Knies
2.06
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Leon Draisaitl has the edge.
| Points per game from | Draisaitl | Knies |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.19 | 0.80 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.96 | 0.57 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.34 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.31 | 0.19 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.18 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.10 | 0.19 |
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: Draisaitl vs Knies
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.
Draisaitl 3G 5A, 24 SOG · Knies 3G 3A, 10 SOG
On the ice against each other (Draisaitl's side)
6:20 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Draisaitl's side
- Shot attempts
- 8–6
- 57.1%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.4
- 44.7%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Draisaitl | Knies |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-03 | EDM 2–5 TOR | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2025-12-13 | EDM 6–3 TOR | 0G 3A 3S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-02-01 | EDM 3–4 TOR | 0G 1A 6S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2024-11-16 | EDM 3–4 TOR | 1G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2024-03-23 | EDM 3–6 TOR | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-01-16 | EDM 4–2 TOR | 1G 0A 3S | 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.
Leon Draisaitl
3games (1 left)
2.8proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VAN
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VAN
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA2.8 pts
Matthew Knies
2games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs BUF
- Sat, Oct 3 vs UTA1.8 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Leon Draisaitl or Matthew Knies in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Leon Draisaitl projects to 2.96 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Matthew Knies's 2.06. Draisaitl had 97 points in 65 games; Knies had 66 in 79 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, Leon Draisaitl or Matthew Knies?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Leon Draisaitl leads in 24 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Draisaitl and Knies done against each other?
- In 6 games against each other in our data, Draisaitl's team went 2–4. Draisaitl had 8 points (3 goals) and Knies had 6 (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 →