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Who to start · 2025-26

Leon Draisaitl vs Nikolaj Ehlers

Leon DraisaitlLeon DraisaitlOilers · CentrevsNikolaj EhlersNikolaj EhlersHurricanes · Left wing

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Leon Draisaitl projects to 2.96 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Nikolaj Ehlers's 1.65.

Draisaitl had 97 points in 65 games; Ehlers had 71 in 82 games.

This week Draisaitl has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Ehlers has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Draisaitl for 2.0 ESPN points to Ehlers's 1.9.

Leon Draisaitl has the better number in 18 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

Draisaitl's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 628, Ice-time share 35.6%, Ice time per game 21:35.

Ehlers's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.78, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.024, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.44.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 2 G, 2 A, 2 PPP, 10 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Leon Draisaitl

2.96

fantasy points per game

Nikolaj Ehlers

1.65

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Leon Draisaitl has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromDraisaitlEhlers
Goals (+2)1.190.56
Assists (+1)0.960.48
Power-play points (+0.5)0.340.15
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.010.00
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.310.26
Hits (+0.1)0.050.03
Blocks (+0.5)0.100.16

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: Draisaitl vs Ehlers

Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.

DraisaitlEhlers
12Team record in 28 meetings16
42Points in those games25

Draisaitl 23G 19A, 92 SOG · Ehlers 13G 12A, 95 SOG

1Faceoffs against each other0

Draisaitl's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 0–0 · Draisaitl's defensive zone 1–0 (2023-24)

3Hits on each other0
2Shots blocked by the other1

Draisaitl blocked 2 of Ehlers's shots; Ehlers blocked 1 of Draisaitl's.

0Penalties drawn off the other1

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

7:48 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Draisaitl's side

Shot attempts
8–9
47.1%
Expected goals
0.4–0.5
44.8%
Goals
0–1

Games against each other

Games between Leon Draisaitl and Nikolaj Ehlers
DateScoreDraisaitlEhlers
2026-03-06EDM 3–6 CAR0G 1A 0S1G 1A 3S
2025-11-15EDM 4–3 CAR1G 2A 3S1G 0A 2S
2024-10-09EDM 0–6 WPG0G 0A 3S0G 1A 0S
2024-03-26EDM 4–3 WPG1G 0A 3S0G 1A 3S
2023-11-30EDM 3–1 WPG1G 0A 3S0G 0A 3S
2023-10-21EDM 2–3 WPG0G 2A 2S0G 0A 3S
2023-03-04EDM 5–7 WPG3G 0A 5S0G 0A 1S
2023-03-03EDM 6–3 WPG2G 1A 3S0G 0A 2S
2021-11-18EDM 2–1 WPG0G 0A 4S1G 0A 6S
2021-11-16EDM 2–5 WPG2G 0A 4S1G 0A 2S
2021-05-24 · POEDM 3–4 WPG0G 2A 10S0G 0A 5S
2021-05-23 · POEDM 4–5 WPG2G 1A 6S2G 0A 3S

Latest 12 of 28 meetings.

Every stat, side by side

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

DraisaitlEhlers

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.

Leon Draisaitl

3games (1 left)

2.0proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 vs VAN
    Opp allows 4th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
  • Thu, Oct 1 @ VAN
    Opp allows 4th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA2.0 pts
    Opp allows 6th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)

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 Leon Draisaitl or Nikolaj Ehlers 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 Nikolaj Ehlers's 1.65. Draisaitl had 97 points in 65 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, Leon Draisaitl or Nikolaj Ehlers?
On 2025-26 numbers, Leon Draisaitl leads in 18 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 Ehlers done against each other?
In 28 games against each other in our data, Draisaitl's team went 12–16. Draisaitl had 42 points (23 goals) and Ehlers had 25 (13 goals).
Who wins more faceoffs, Draisaitl or Ehlers?
Against each other, Draisaitl has won 1 and Ehlers 0 of their 1 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 →