Who to start · 2025-26
Mattias Ekholm vs Patrick Kane
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Patrick Kane projects to 1.68 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mattias Ekholm's 1.43.
Ekholm had 41 points in 82 games; Kane had 57 in 67 games.
This week Ekholm has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Kane has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Kane for 1.6 ESPN points to Ekholm's 1.1.
Mattias Ekholm has the better number in 19 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Ekholm's biggest edges: Hardest shot 98.4, Faceoffs won 0, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.038.
Kane's biggest edges: Power-play share 63.5%, Power-play time per game 3:08, Ascension score 48.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mattias Ekholm
1.43
fantasy points per game
Patrick Kane
1.68
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Patrick Kane has the edge.
| Points per game from | Ekholm | Kane |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.13 | 0.54 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 0.54 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.13 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.15 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.67 | 0.19 |
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: Ekholm vs Kane
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.
Ekholm 3G 16A, 64 SOG · Kane 3G 19A, 89 SOG
Ekholm blocked 7 of Kane's shots; Kane blocked 2 of Ekholm's.
On the ice against each other (Ekholm's side)
4:07 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Ekholm's side
- Shot attempts
- 1–3
- 25.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.0–0.3
- 12.4%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Ekholm | Kane |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-11 | EDM 4–1 DET | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-10-27 | EDM 3–2 DET | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2024-02-13 | EDM 8–4 DET | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2024-01-11 | EDM 3–2 DET | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2022-12-21 | NSH 4–2 CHI | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 9S |
| 2022-04-16 | NSH 4–3 CHI | 0G 1A 3S | 1G 1A 5S |
| 2022-01-01 | NSH 6–1 CHI | 0G 3A 1S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2021-12-17 | NSH 3–2 CHI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2021-11-07 | NSH 1–2 CHI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2021-04-23 | NSH 3–1 CHI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2021-04-21 | NSH 4–5 CHI | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2021-04-19 | NSH 5–2 CHI | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
Latest 12 of 29 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.
Mattias Ekholm
3games (1 left)
1.1proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VANOpp allows 5th-most FP to DLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 5th-most FP to DLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.1 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to DLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)
Patrick Kane
3games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ VGKOpp allows 14th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Carter Hart (.891)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ UTAOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ BUF1.6 ptsOpp allows 3rd-most FP to RWSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.910)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mattias Ekholm or Patrick Kane in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Patrick Kane projects to 1.68 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mattias Ekholm's 1.43. Ekholm had 41 points in 82 games; Kane had 57 in 67 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, Mattias Ekholm or Patrick Kane?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mattias Ekholm leads in 19 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Ekholm and Kane done against each other?
- In 29 games against each other in our data, Ekholm's team went 22–7. Ekholm had 19 points (3 goals) and Kane had 22 (3 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 →