Who to start · 2025-26
Nikolaj Ehlers vs Tomas Hertl
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Tomas Hertl projects to 1.88 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Nikolaj Ehlers's 1.65.
Ehlers had 71 points in 82 games; Hertl had 58 in 82 games.
This week Ehlers has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Hertl has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Hertl for 2.0 ESPN points to Ehlers's 1.8.
Nikolaj Ehlers has the better number in 22 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Ehlers's biggest edges: Goals above expected +2.6, Plus/minus +8, Top skating speed 23.1.
Hertl's biggest edges: Hits 114, Faceoffs won 720, Penalty minutes 39.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 9 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Nikolaj Ehlers
1.65
fantasy points per game
Tomas Hertl
1.88
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Tomas Hertl has the edge.
| Points per game from | Ehlers | Hertl |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.56 | 0.63 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.48 | 0.37 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.15 | 0.17 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.26 | 0.27 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.03 | 0.14 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.16 | 0.30 |
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 Hertl
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 8G 14A, 53 SOG · Hertl 8G 10A, 57 SOG
On the ice against each other (Ehlers's side)
19:05 at 5-on-5 over 7 games, 2025-26, from Ehlers's side
- Shot attempts
- 15–18
- 45.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.8–0.7
- 51.9%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Ehlers | Hertl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-14 · PO | CAR 3–0 VGK | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2026-06-11 · PO | CAR 4–2 VGK | 0G 3A 0S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2026-06-09 · PO | CAR 5–3 VGK | 1G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-06-06 · PO | CAR 4–5 VGK | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2026-06-04 · PO | CAR 4–3 VGK | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2026-06-02 · PO | CAR 4–5 VGK | 2G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-10-28 | CAR 3–6 VGK | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2025-10-20 | CAR 1–4 VGK | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-11-29 | WPG 3–4 VGK | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-01-04 | WPG 2–1 SJS | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-12-12 | WPG 1–2 SJS | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-04-10 | WPG 6–2 SJS | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
Latest 12 of 23 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-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)
Tomas Hertl
3games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs CHIOpp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs ANALikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ VAN2.0 ptsOpp allows 4th-most FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Nikolaj Ehlers or Tomas Hertl in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Tomas Hertl projects to 1.88 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Nikolaj Ehlers's 1.65. Ehlers had 71 points in 82 games; Hertl had 58 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 Tomas Hertl?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nikolaj Ehlers leads in 22 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 Hertl done against each other?
- In 23 games against each other in our data, Ehlers's team went 11–12. Ehlers had 22 points (8 goals) and Hertl had 18 (8 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 →