Who to start · 2025-26
Leon Draisaitl vs Matty Beniers
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Leon Draisaitl projects to 2.96 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Matty Beniers's 1.73.
Draisaitl had 97 points in 65 games; Beniers had 50 in 82 games.
This week Draisaitl has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Beniers has 2 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Beniers for 3.8 ESPN points to Draisaitl's 2.0.
Leon Draisaitl has the better number in 31 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Draisaitl's biggest edges: Plus/minus +13, Fenwick 54.4%, Top skating speed 23.3.
Beniers's biggest edges: Blocked shots 69, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.38, Hardest shot 90.4.
Head to head on the dot, Draisaitl leads Beniers 24–12.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 2 G, 2 A, 2 PPP, 10 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Leon Draisaitl
2.96
fantasy points per game
Matty Beniers
1.73
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Leon Draisaitl has the edge.
| Points per game from | Draisaitl | Beniers |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.19 | 0.58 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.96 | 0.41 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.34 | 0.06 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.31 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.10 | 0.46 |
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 Beniers
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2022-23 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Draisaitl 4G 17A, 33 SOG · Beniers 1G 6A, 15 SOG
Draisaitl's offensive zone 11–3 · neutral 2–2 · Draisaitl's defensive zone 11–7 (2022-23 to 2025-26)
Draisaitl blocked 1 of Beniers's shots; Beniers blocked 0 of Draisaitl's.
On the ice against each other (Draisaitl's side)
13:36 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Draisaitl's side
- Shot attempts
- 18–11
- 62.1%
- Expected goals
- 0.9–0.2
- 78.8%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Draisaitl | Beniers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-04 | EDM 9–4 SEA | 1G 3A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-11-29 | EDM 4–0 SEA | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-10-25 | EDM 2–3 SEA | 0G 2A 5S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2025-01-27 | EDM 4–2 SEA | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-01-04 | EDM 4–2 SEA | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-03-02 | EDM 2–1 SEA | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-11-15 | EDM 4–3 SEA | 0G 2A 5S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-11-11 | EDM 4–1 SEA | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-03-18 | EDM 6–4 SEA | 0G 3A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-01-17 | EDM 5–2 SEA | 0G 2A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-01-03 | EDM 2–5 SEA | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 1A 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.
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)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VANOpp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA2.0 ptsOpp allows 6th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)
Matty Beniers
3games (2 left)
3.8proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ CGYOpp allows 2nd-most FP to CLikely vs Dustin Wolf (.899)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ EDM1.9 ptsOpp allows 12th-most FP to CLikely vs Tristan Jarry (.882)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs CGYB2B1.9 ptsOpp allows 2nd-most FP to CLikely vs Dustin Wolf (.899)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Leon Draisaitl or Matty Beniers 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 Matty Beniers's 1.73. Draisaitl had 97 points in 65 games; Beniers had 50 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, Leon Draisaitl or Matty Beniers?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Leon Draisaitl leads in 31 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Draisaitl and Beniers done against each other?
- In 11 games against each other in our data, Draisaitl's team went 9–2. Draisaitl had 21 points (4 goals) and Beniers had 7 (1 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Draisaitl or Beniers?
- Against each other, Draisaitl has won 24 and Beniers 12 of their 36 head-to-head draws.
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 →