Edgehalla

Who to start · 2025-26

Matthew Knies vs Nikolaj Ehlers

Matthew KniesMatthew KniesBlue Jackets · Left wingvsNikolaj EhlersNikolaj EhlersHurricanes · Left wing

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Matthew Knies projects to 2.06 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Nikolaj Ehlers's 1.65.

Knies had 66 points in 79 games; Ehlers had 71 in 82 games.

This week Knies has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Ehlers has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Ehlers for 1.8 ESPN points to Knies's 1.4.

Nikolaj Ehlers has the better number in 24 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

Knies's biggest edges: Hits 152, Luck Meter +37, On-ice PDO 1004.

Ehlers's biggest edges: Fenwick 61.3%, Corsi 60.6%, Scoring chances 58.5%.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 4 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Matthew Knies

2.06

fantasy points per game

Nikolaj Ehlers

1.65

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Matthew Knies has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromKniesEhlers
Goals (+2)0.800.56
Assists (+1)0.570.48
Power-play points (+0.5)0.120.15
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.010.00
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.190.26
Hits (+0.1)0.180.03
Blocks (+0.5)0.190.16

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: Knies vs Ehlers

Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2023-24 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.

KniesEhlers
4Team record in 7 meetings3
5Points in those games3

Knies 2G 3A, 10 SOG · Ehlers 0G 3A, 14 SOG

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

6:34 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Knies's side

Shot attempts
1–9
10.0%
Expected goals
0.1–0.5
9.6%
Goals
0–1

Games against each other

Games between Matthew Knies and Nikolaj Ehlers
DateScoreKniesEhlers
2026-03-20TOR 3–4 CAR0G 0A 1S0G 0A 3S
2025-12-04TOR 5–1 CAR1G 1A 3S0G 0A 1S
2025-11-09TOR 4–5 CAR0G 2A 1S0G 2A 5S
2024-12-23TOR 2–5 WPG0G 0A 1S0G 0A 0S
2024-10-28TOR 6–4 WPG1G 0A 3S0G 1A 1S
2024-01-27TOR 4–2 WPG0G 0A 1S0G 0A 1S
2024-01-24TOR 1–0 WPG0G 0A 0S0G 0A 3S

Every stat, side by side

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

KniesEhlers

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.

Matthew Knies

2games (1 left)

1.4proj. ESPN pts

  • Thu, Oct 1 vs BUF
    Opp allows 8th-most FP to LWLikely vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.910)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs UTA1.4 pts
    Opp allows 3rd-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)

Nikolaj Ehlers

3games (1 left)

1.8proj. 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 @ PHIB2B1.8 pts
    Opp allows 4th-most FP to LWSchedule edge −12.8 win%Likely vs Dan Vladar (.906)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Matthew Knies or Nikolaj Ehlers in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Matthew Knies projects to 2.06 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Nikolaj Ehlers's 1.65. Knies had 66 points in 79 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, Matthew Knies or Nikolaj Ehlers?
On 2025-26 numbers, Nikolaj Ehlers leads in 24 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
How have Knies and Ehlers done against each other?
In 7 games against each other in our data, Knies's team went 4–3. Knies had 5 points (2 goals) and Ehlers had 3 (0 goals).

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 →