Who to start · 2025-26
Nikolaj Ehlers vs Ryan Leonard
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikolaj Ehlers projects to 1.65 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ryan Leonard's 1.59.
Ehlers had 71 points in 82 games; Leonard had 45 in 75 games.
This week Ehlers has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Leonard has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Ehlers for 1.8 ESPN points to Leonard's 1.8.
Nikolaj Ehlers has the better number in 25 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Ehlers's biggest edges: Scoring chances 58.5%, Corsi 60.6%, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.024.
Leonard's biggest edges: On-ice PDO 1047, Hits 124, Penalty minutes 47.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Nikolaj Ehlers
1.65
fantasy points per game
Ryan Leonard
1.59
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nikolaj Ehlers has the edge.
| Points per game from | Ehlers | Leonard |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.56 | 0.63 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.48 | 0.31 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.15 | 0.09 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.26 | 0.21 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.03 | 0.17 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.16 | 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: Ehlers vs Leonard
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2025-26 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Ehlers 1G 0A, 9 SOG · Leonard 1G 1A, 9 SOG
On the ice against each other (Ehlers's side)
12:06 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27, from Ehlers's side
- Shot attempts
- 19–9
- 67.9%
- Expected goals
- 1.4–0.8
- 65.0%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Ehlers | Leonard |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-02 | CAR 2–5 WSH | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2026-01-31 | CAR 3–4 WSH | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-11-11 | CAR 1–4 WSH | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 5S |
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.
Nikolaj Ehlers
3games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs FLAOpp allows 13th-most FP to LWLikely vs Jacob Markstrom (.883)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs WSHLikely vs Logan Thompson (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ PHIB2B1.8 ptsOpp allows 4th-most FP to LWSchedule edge −12.8 win%Likely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
Ryan Leonard
2games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ CAROpp allows 5th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TBLB2B1.8 ptsOpp allows the most FP to RWSchedule edge −13.3 win%Likely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Nikolaj Ehlers or Ryan Leonard in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikolaj Ehlers projects to 1.65 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ryan Leonard's 1.59. Ehlers had 71 points in 82 games; Leonard had 45 in 75 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, Nikolaj Ehlers or Ryan Leonard?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nikolaj Ehlers leads in 25 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Ehlers and Leonard done against each other?
- In 3 games against each other in our data, Ehlers's team went 0–3. Ehlers had 1 points (1 goals) and Leonard had 2 (1 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 →