Who to start · 2025-26
Aliaksei Protas vs Bowen Byram
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Aliaksei Protas projects to 1.58 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Bowen Byram's 1.37.
Protas had 52 points in 76 games; Byram had 42 in 82 games.
This week Protas has 2 games left with 1 soft matchup; Byram has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Protas for 3.0 ESPN points to Byram's 2.0.
Aliaksei Protas has the better number in 21 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Protas's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.43, Goals above expected +2.6, High-danger chances 53.6%.
Byram's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 0, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.046, Power-play time per game 1:35.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Aliaksei Protas
1.58
fantasy points per game
Bowen Byram
1.37
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Aliaksei Protas has the edge.
| Points per game from | Protas | Byram |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.62 | 0.24 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.40 | 0.33 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.04 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.21 | 0.12 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.29 | 0.59 |
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: Protas vs Byram
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2023-24 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Protas 4G 3A, 21 SOG · Byram 0G 3A, 8 SOG
On the ice against each other (Protas's side)
14:02 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Protas's side
- Shot attempts
- 17–12
- 58.6%
- Expected goals
- 0.8–0.5
- 63.6%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Protas | Byram |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-04 | WSH 6–2 BUF | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2026-03-12 | WSH 2–1 BUF | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-11-01 | WSH 3–4 BUF | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-03-30 | WSH 5–8 BUF | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-01-06 | WSH 3–4 BUF | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-12-14 | WSH 4–2 BUF | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-04-02 | WSH 2–6 BUF | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-02-13 | WSH 3–6 COL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2024-01-24 | WSH 2–6 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
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.
Aliaksei Protas
2games
3.0proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ CAR1.2 ptsOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to LW
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TBLB2B1.8 ptsOpp allows 6th-most FP to LWSchedule edge −13.3 win%Likely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
Bowen Byram
3games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ VGKOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Carter Hart (.891)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ UTAOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to DLikely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ BUF2.0 ptsOpp allows 8th-most FP to DSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.910)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Aliaksei Protas or Bowen Byram in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Aliaksei Protas projects to 1.58 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Bowen Byram's 1.37. Protas had 52 points in 76 games; Byram had 42 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, Aliaksei Protas or Bowen Byram?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Aliaksei Protas 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 Protas and Byram done against each other?
- In 9 games against each other in our data, Protas's team went 3–6. Protas had 7 points (4 goals) and Byram had 3 (0 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 →