Who to start · 2025-26
Anthony Cirelli vs Brady Tkachuk
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brady Tkachuk projects to 2.16 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Anthony Cirelli's 1.67.
Cirelli had 52 points in 71 games; Tkachuk had 59 in 60 games.
This week Cirelli has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Tkachuk has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Tkachuk for 2.3 ESPN points to Cirelli's 1.2.
Brady Tkachuk has the better number in 23 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Cirelli's biggest edges: On-ice PDO 1052, Goals above expected +3.0, Blocked shots 47.
Tkachuk's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 2.80, Offensive-zone time 48.6%, Draw Equity /100 +0.101.
Head to head on the dot, Tkachuk leads Cirelli 16–11.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Anthony Cirelli
1.67
fantasy points per game
Brady Tkachuk
2.16
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Brady Tkachuk has the edge.
| Points per game from | Cirelli | Tkachuk |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.61 | 0.65 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 0.54 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.15 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.35 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.29 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.37 | 0.17 |
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: Cirelli vs Tkachuk
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2018-19 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Cirelli 3G 7A, 24 SOG · Tkachuk 11G 12A, 75 SOG
Cirelli's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 3–2 · Cirelli's defensive zone 8–14 (2019-20 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Cirelli's side)
9:12 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Cirelli's side
- Shot attempts
- 20–11
- 64.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.8–0.4
- 64.8%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cirelli | Tkachuk |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-28 | TBL 4–2 OTT | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-10-09 | TBL 4–5 OTT | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 3A 5S |
| 2025-02-04 | TBL 4–3 OTT | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2024-10-19 | TBL 4–5 OTT | 0G 2A 1S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2024-04-11 | TBL 2–3 OTT | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 1A 5S |
| 2024-02-19 | TBL 2–4 OTT | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-11-04 | TBL 6–4 OTT | 0G 1A 0S | 2G 1A 6S |
| 2023-10-15 | TBL 2–5 OTT | 1G 0A 4S | 2G 1A 7S |
| 2023-04-08 | TBL 4–7 OTT | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2023-03-23 | TBL 2–7 OTT | 0G 0A 2S | 2G 0A 7S |
| 2022-03-01 | TBL 5–2 OTT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2021-12-16 | TBL 2–1 OTT | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
Latest 12 of 19 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.
Anthony Cirelli
2games (1 left)
1.2proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 15th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH1.2 ptsOpp allows 9th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)
Brady Tkachuk
3games (1 left)
2.3proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ CAROpp allows 9th-most FP to LWLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ SJSOpp allows 15th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ ANA2.3 ptsOpp allows 8th-most FP to LWLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Anthony Cirelli or Brady Tkachuk in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brady Tkachuk projects to 2.16 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Anthony Cirelli's 1.67. Cirelli had 52 points in 71 games; Tkachuk had 59 in 60 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, Anthony Cirelli or Brady Tkachuk?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Brady Tkachuk leads in 23 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Cirelli and Tkachuk done against each other?
- In 19 games against each other in our data, Cirelli's team went 10–9. Cirelli had 10 points (3 goals) and Tkachuk had 23 (11 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Cirelli or Tkachuk?
- Against each other, Cirelli has won 11 and Tkachuk 16 of their 27 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 →