Who to start · 2025-26
Aliaksei Protas vs Zach Werenski
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Zach Werenski projects to 2.59 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Aliaksei Protas's 1.58.
Protas had 52 points in 76 games; Werenski had 81 in 75 games.
This week Protas has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Werenski has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Werenski for 1.9 ESPN points to Protas's 1.8.
Zach Werenski has the better number in 21 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Protas's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.43, Plus/minus +20, Blocked shots 42.
Werenski's biggest edges: Power-play share 77.5%, Offensive-zone time 44.2%, Power-play time per game 2:58.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 1 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Aliaksei Protas
1.58
fantasy points per game
Zach Werenski
2.59
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Zach Werenski has the edge.
| Points per game from | Protas | Werenski |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.62 | 0.55 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.40 | 0.86 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.16 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.21 | 0.34 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.29 | 0.62 |
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 Werenski
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Protas 6G 6A, 16 SOG · Werenski 1G 2A, 37 SOG
On the ice against each other (Protas's side)
20:23 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Protas's side
- Shot attempts
- 22–15
- 59.5%
- Expected goals
- 1.0–0.7
- 58.3%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Protas | Werenski |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-14 | WSH 2–1 CBJ | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-12-07 | WSH 2–0 CBJ | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-11-24 | WSH 5–1 CBJ | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-10-24 | WSH 5–1 CBJ | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-12-12 | WSH 2–1 CBJ | 2G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 6S |
| 2024-11-02 | WSH 7–2 CBJ | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2023-12-21 | WSH 3–2 CBJ | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 8S |
| 2023-11-18 | WSH 4–3 CBJ | 1G 2A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-11-04 | WSH 2–1 CBJ | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2021-12-04 | WSH 3–1 CBJ | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2021-11-12 | WSH 4–3 CBJ | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
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 (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ CAROpp allows 9th-most FP to LWLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TBLB2B1.8 ptsOpp allows 6th-most FP to LWSchedule edge −13.3 win%vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
Zach Werenski
2games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs BUFOpp allows 11th-most FP to DLikely vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.910)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs UTA1.9 ptsOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to DLikely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Aliaksei Protas or Zach Werenski in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Zach Werenski projects to 2.59 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Aliaksei Protas's 1.58. Protas had 52 points in 76 games; Werenski had 81 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, Aliaksei Protas or Zach Werenski?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Zach Werenski leads in 21 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Protas and Werenski done against each other?
- In 11 games against each other in our data, Protas's team went 11–0. Protas had 12 points (6 goals) and Werenski had 3 (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 →