Who to start · 2025-26
Leon Draisaitl vs Pavel Zacha
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Leon Draisaitl projects to 2.96 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70.
Draisaitl had 97 points in 65 games; Zacha had 65 in 78 games.
This week Draisaitl has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Zacha has 1 left. We project Draisaitl for 2.0 ESPN points to Zacha's 1.0.
Leon Draisaitl has the better number in 27 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Draisaitl's biggest edges: Ascension score 69, Expected goals 55.4%, Sequence xG 55.4%.
Zacha's biggest edges: Hardest shot 93.0, Goals above expected +8.8, On-ice PDO 1036.
Head to head on the dot, Draisaitl leads Zacha 25–13.
- • 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
Pavel Zacha
1.70
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Leon Draisaitl has the edge.
| Points per game from | Draisaitl | Zacha |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.19 | 0.68 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.96 | 0.40 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.34 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.31 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.10 | 0.24 |
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 Zacha
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.
Draisaitl 6G 9A, 50 SOG · Zacha 3G 1A, 18 SOG
Draisaitl's offensive zone 10–6 · neutral 13–1 · Draisaitl's defensive zone 2–6 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Draisaitl's side)
1:37 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Draisaitl's side
- Shot attempts
- 2–2
- 50.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.2
- 34.2%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Draisaitl | Zacha |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-31 | EDM 2–6 BOS | 0G 1A 8S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-12-18 | EDM 3–1 BOS | 0G 1A 4S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2025-01-07 | EDM 4–0 BOS | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-12-19 | EDM 3–2 BOS | 0G 3A 6S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-03-05 | EDM 2–1 BOS | 2G 0A 6S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2024-02-21 | EDM 5–6 BOS | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2023-03-09 | EDM 3–2 BOS | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-02-27 | EDM 2–3 BOS | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2021-12-31 | EDM 5–6 NJD | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2019-11-08 | EDM 4–0 NJD | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2019-10-10 | EDM 4–3 NJD | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2018-10-06 | EDM 2–5 NJD | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
Latest 12 of 13 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.
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 4th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 4th-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)
Pavel Zacha
3games (1 left)
1.0proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs NYROpp allows 10th-most FP to CLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ WPGLikely vs Stuart Skinner (.888)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ MINB2B1.0 ptsOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −12.7 win%Likely vs Jesper Wallstedt (.916)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Leon Draisaitl or Pavel Zacha 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 Pavel Zacha's 1.70. Draisaitl had 97 points in 65 games; Zacha had 65 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, Leon Draisaitl or Pavel Zacha?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Leon Draisaitl leads in 27 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 Zacha done against each other?
- In 13 games against each other in our data, Draisaitl's team went 8–5. Draisaitl had 15 points (6 goals) and Zacha had 4 (3 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Draisaitl or Zacha?
- Against each other, Draisaitl has won 25 and Zacha 13 of their 38 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 →