Who to start · 2025-26
Nikolaj Ehlers vs Steven Stamkos
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Steven Stamkos projects to 2.00 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Nikolaj Ehlers's 1.65.
Ehlers had 71 points in 82 games; Stamkos had 66 in 82 games.
This week Ehlers has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Stamkos has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Stamkos for 2.0 ESPN points to Ehlers's 1.8.
Nikolaj Ehlers has the better number in 19 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Ehlers's biggest edges: Plus/minus +8, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.44, Fenwick 61.3%.
Stamkos's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 58, Hits 89, Faceoffs won 323.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Nikolaj Ehlers
1.65
fantasy points per game
Steven Stamkos
2.00
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Steven Stamkos has the edge.
| Points per game from | Ehlers | Stamkos |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.56 | 0.96 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.48 | 0.34 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.15 | 0.15 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.26 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.03 | 0.11 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.16 | 0.21 |
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 Stamkos
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 6G 11A, 54 SOG · Stamkos 7G 10A, 41 SOG
Ehlers's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 0–0 · Ehlers's defensive zone 0–1 (2024-25)
Ehlers blocked 0 of Stamkos's shots; Stamkos blocked 3 of Ehlers's.
On the ice against each other (Ehlers's side)
7:39 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Ehlers's side
- Shot attempts
- 6–7
- 46.2%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.2
- 44.2%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Ehlers | Stamkos |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-17 | CAR 4–1 NSH | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-12-06 | CAR 6–3 NSH | 1G 2A 5S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-02-27 | WPG 1–2 NSH | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-01-07 | WPG 5–2 NSH | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-12-30 | WPG 3–0 NSH | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-11-23 | WPG 1–4 NSH | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-01-02 | WPG 4–2 TBL | 1G 0A 5S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2023-11-22 | WPG 3–2 TBL | 0G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2023-03-12 | WPG 3–2 TBL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-01-06 | WPG 4–2 TBL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2022-04-16 | WPG 4–7 TBL | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2022-03-08 | WPG 7–4 TBL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
Latest 12 of 18 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)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs FLAOpp allows 13th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Jacob Markstrom (.883)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs WSHOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to LWLikely 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)
Steven Stamkos
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs MINOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jesper Wallstedt (.916)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs DAL2.0 ptsOpp allows 3rd-most FP to CSchedule edge +13.0 win%Likely vs Casey DeSmith (.907)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Nikolaj Ehlers or Steven Stamkos in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Steven Stamkos projects to 2.00 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Nikolaj Ehlers's 1.65. Ehlers had 71 points in 82 games; Stamkos had 66 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, Nikolaj Ehlers or Steven Stamkos?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nikolaj Ehlers 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 Ehlers and Stamkos done against each other?
- In 18 games against each other in our data, Ehlers's team went 12–6. Ehlers had 17 points (6 goals) and Stamkos had 17 (7 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Ehlers or Stamkos?
- Against each other, Ehlers has won 0 and Stamkos 1 of their 1 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 →