Who to start · 2025-26
Linus Karlsson vs Mikael Backlund
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Linus Karlsson projects to 1.18 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mikael Backlund's 1.13.
Karlsson had 35 points in 79 games; Backlund had 43 in 82 games.
This week Karlsson has 2 games left; Backlund has 2 left. In ESPN default points scoring we project Karlsson for 2.3 to Backlund's 2.0 over the games left.
Linus Karlsson has the better number in 18 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Karlsson's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.019, Hits 83, Offensive-zone time 42.9%.
Backlund's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.84, Plus/minus +7, Hardest shot 93.5.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Mikael Backlund rates ahead, -0.9 to -1.6 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: Karlsson is steady, ixG/60 1.24 (was 0.62); Backlund is steady, ixG/60 1.23 (was 0.58).
- • Karlsson, 2026-27 so far: 11 GP, 3 G, 5 A, 1 PPP, 21 SOG.
- • Karlsson, last 10 games (Oct 1–Oct 20): 3 G, 4 A, 1 PPP, 19 SOG.
- • Backlund, 2026-27 so far: 8 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 24 SOG.
Vancouver Canucks · Calgary Flames · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Linus Karlsson
-1.6
category z-score total
Mikael Backlund
-0.9
category z-score total
Under Standard (6 categories), Mikael Backlund has the edge (Karlsson wins 4, Backlund wins 2 of 6 categories).
| Category | Karlsson | Backlund |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.22 | 0.18 |
| Assists / game | 0.34 | 0.25 |
| Plus/minus / game | -0.24 | -0.07 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.07 | 0.02 |
| Shots on goal / game | 1.65 | 2.52 |
| Hits / game | 0.72 | 0.49 |
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 scoring choice is shared with Who Should I Start: saved on this device, and on your account when you are signed in.
Head-to-head: Karlsson vs Backlund
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2023-24 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Karlsson 0G 3A, 8 SOG · Backlund 1G 4A, 10 SOG
Karlsson's offensive zone 1–1 · neutral 0–0 · Karlsson's defensive zone 0–0 (2023-24 to 2026-27)
On the ice against each other (Karlsson's side)
12:54 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27, from Karlsson's side
- Shot attempts
- 16–7
- 69.6%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.1
- 80.9%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Karlsson | Backlund |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-03 | VAN 4–1 CGY | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2026-03-28 | VAN 3–7 CGY | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-11-23 | VAN 2–5 CGY | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2023-12-02 | VAN 4–3 CGY | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2023-11-16 | VAN 2–5 CGY | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 4S |
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, Luck & trend, NHL EDGE tracking continue below
Every stat, side by side (continued)
Transition, turnovers & faceoffs
Usage
Special teams & discipline
This week's schedule
Oct 19 to Oct 25. 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 cover the games left: Edgehalla's rest-of-season rates per game, adjusted for each opponent's scoring allowed, in ESPN default points.
Scored in ESPN default points (G 2, A 1, PPP 0.5, SHP 0.5, SOG 0.1, HIT 0.1, BLK 0.5). Use your league's scoring
Linus Karlsson
3games (2 left)
2.3proj. ESPN default pts
- Tue, Oct 20 vs CAROpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to CLikely vs Pyotr Kochetkov (.899)
- Thu, Oct 22 vs DET1.1 ptsOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to CLikely vs John Gibson (.901)
- Sun, Oct 25 vs MIN1.2 pts
Mikael Backlund
2games
2.0proj. ESPN default pts
- Thu, Oct 22 vs MIN1.0 pts
- Sat, Oct 24 vs DET1.0 ptsOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to CLikely vs John Gibson (.901)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Linus Karlsson or Mikael Backlund in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Linus Karlsson projects to 1.18 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mikael Backlund's 1.13. Karlsson had 35 points in 79 games; Backlund had 43 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, Linus Karlsson or Mikael Backlund?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Linus Karlsson 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 Karlsson and Backlund done against each other?
- In 5 games against each other in our data, Karlsson's team went 2–3. Karlsson had 3 points (0 goals) and Backlund had 5 (1 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Karlsson or Backlund?
- Against each other, Karlsson has won 1 and Backlund 1 of their 2 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 →