Who to start · 2025-26
Leon Draisaitl vs Tage Thompson
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Leon Draisaitl projects to 2.96 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Tage Thompson's 2.26.
Draisaitl had 97 points in 65 games; Thompson had 81 in 81 games.
This week Draisaitl has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Thompson has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Thompson for 2.6 ESPN points to Draisaitl's 2.0.
Leon Draisaitl has the better number in 25 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Draisaitl's biggest edges: Draw Equity /100 +0.077, Faceoff win % 56.9%, Goals above expected +1.8.
Thompson's biggest edges: Blocked shots 48, Hardest shot 97.9, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.35.
Head to head on the dot, Draisaitl leads Thompson 20–14.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 2 G, 2 A, 2 PPP, 10 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Leon Draisaitl
2.96
fantasy points per game
Tage Thompson
2.26
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Leon Draisaitl has the edge.
| Points per game from | Draisaitl | Thompson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.19 | 0.93 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.96 | 0.47 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.34 | 0.14 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.31 | 0.34 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.10 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.10 | 0.28 |
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 Thompson
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 10A, 45 SOG · Thompson 7G 4A, 40 SOG
Draisaitl's offensive zone 8–5 · neutral 6–6 · Draisaitl's defensive zone 6–3 (2021-22 to 2025-26)
Draisaitl blocked 1 of Thompson's shots; Thompson blocked 0 of Draisaitl's.
On the ice against each other (Draisaitl's side)
13:50 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Draisaitl's side
- Shot attempts
- 11–15
- 42.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.5
- 43.0%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Draisaitl | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-09 | EDM 3–4 BUF | 0G 1A 7S | 1G 2A 4S |
| 2025-11-17 | EDM 1–5 BUF | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-03-10 | EDM 2–3 BUF | 0G 2A 4S | 2G 0A 3S |
| 2025-01-25 | EDM 3–2 BUF | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2024-03-21 | EDM 8–3 BUF | 1G 2A 3S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2024-03-09 | EDM 2–3 BUF | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2023-03-06 | EDM 3–2 BUF | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-10-18 | EDM 2–4 BUF | 0G 1A 4S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2022-03-17 | EDM 6–1 BUF | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2021-11-12 | EDM 2–3 BUF | 2G 0A 8S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2019-03-04 | EDM 4–3 BUF | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2019-01-14 | EDM 7–2 BUF | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
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 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)
Tage Thompson
2games (1 left)
2.6proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ CBJOpp allows 16th-most FP to CLikely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CHI2.6 ptsOpp allows 8th-most FP to CLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Leon Draisaitl or Tage Thompson 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 Tage Thompson's 2.26. Draisaitl had 97 points in 65 games; Thompson had 81 in 81 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 Tage Thompson?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Leon Draisaitl leads in 25 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 Thompson done against each other?
- In 13 games against each other in our data, Draisaitl's team went 7–6. Draisaitl had 16 points (6 goals) and Thompson had 11 (7 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Draisaitl or Thompson?
- Against each other, Draisaitl has won 20 and Thompson 14 of their 34 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 →