Who to start · 2025-26
Nikolaj Ehlers vs Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins projects to 1.70 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Nikolaj Ehlers's 1.65.
Ehlers had 71 points in 82 games; Nugent-Hopkins had 56 in 72 games.
This week Ehlers has 1 game left; Nugent-Hopkins has 1 left. We project Ehlers for 1.5 ESPN points to Nugent-Hopkins's 1.4.
Nikolaj Ehlers has the better number in 21 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Ehlers's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.024, Plus/minus +8, Fenwick 61.3%.
Nugent-Hopkins's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 172, Ice-time share 31.4%, Ice time per game 19:04.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Nikolaj Ehlers
1.78
fantasy points per game
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
1.70
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nikolaj Ehlers has the edge.
| Points per game from | Ehlers | Nugent-Hopkins |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.63 | 0.56 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.55 | 0.50 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.17 | 0.20 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.03 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.15 | 0.22 |
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 Nugent-Hopkins
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.
Ehlers 12G 13A, 90 SOG · Nugent-Hopkins 11G 17A, 81 SOG
Ehlers blocked 0 of Nugent-Hopkins's shots; Nugent-Hopkins blocked 1 of Ehlers's.
On the ice against each other (Ehlers's side)
1:28 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Ehlers's side
- Shot attempts
- 2–1
- 66.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.0–0.0
- 93.3%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Ehlers | Nugent-Hopkins |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-06 | CAR 6–3 EDM | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-03-20 | WPG 4–3 EDM | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-10-09 | WPG 6–0 EDM | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-03-26 | WPG 3–4 EDM | 0G 1A 3S | 1G 1A 5S |
| 2023-11-30 | WPG 1–3 EDM | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-10-21 | WPG 3–2 EDM | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2023-03-04 | WPG 7–5 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2023-03-03 | WPG 3–6 EDM | 0G 0A 2S | 2G 2A 5S |
| 2021-11-18 | WPG 1–2 EDM | 1G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2021-11-16 | WPG 5–2 EDM | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2021-05-24 · PO | WPG 4–3 EDM | 0G 0A 5S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2021-05-23 · PO | WPG 5–4 EDM | 2G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 6S |
Latest 12 of 27 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.
Nikolaj Ehlers
3games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs FLA
- Fri, Oct 2 vs WSH
- Sat, Oct 3 @ PHIB2B1.5 ptsSchedule edge −9.3 win%
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
3games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VAN
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VAN
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.4 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Nikolaj Ehlers or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins projects to 1.70 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Nikolaj Ehlers's 1.65. Ehlers had 71 points in 82 games; Nugent-Hopkins had 56 in 72 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 Nugent-Hopkins?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nikolaj Ehlers leads in 21 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Ehlers and Nugent-Hopkins done against each other?
- In 27 games against each other in our data, Ehlers's team went 17–10. Ehlers had 25 points (12 goals) and Nugent-Hopkins had 28 (11 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 →