Who to start · 2025-26
Anthony Cirelli vs Carter Verhaeghe
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Anthony Cirelli projects to 1.67 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Carter Verhaeghe's 1.50.
Cirelli had 52 points in 71 games; Verhaeghe had 55 in 77 games.
This week Cirelli has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Verhaeghe has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Verhaeghe for 1.6 ESPN points to Cirelli's 1.2.
Anthony Cirelli has the better number in 19 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Cirelli's biggest edges: Plus/minus +38, Ascension score 55, On-ice PDO 1052.
Verhaeghe's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.78, Offensive-zone time 45.8%, 20+ mph bursts 180.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Anthony Cirelli
1.67
fantasy points per game
Carter Verhaeghe
1.50
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Anthony Cirelli has the edge.
| Points per game from | Cirelli | Verhaeghe |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.61 | 0.57 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 0.40 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.07 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.22 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.37 | 0.16 |
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 Verhaeghe
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2020-21 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Cirelli 3G 13A, 54 SOG · Verhaeghe 17G 12A, 99 SOG
Cirelli's offensive zone 1–0 · neutral 1–0 · Cirelli's defensive zone 1–2 (2020-21 to 2025-26)
Cirelli blocked 1 of Verhaeghe's shots; Verhaeghe blocked 1 of Cirelli's.
On the ice against each other (Cirelli's side)
4:20 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Cirelli's side
- Shot attempts
- 1–4
- 20.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.0–0.0
- 50.7%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cirelli | Verhaeghe |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-27 | TBL 4–2 FLA | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-12-15 | TBL 2–5 FLA | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2025-04-30 · PO | TBL 3–6 FLA | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-04-28 · PO | TBL 2–4 FLA | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-04-26 · PO | TBL 5–1 FLA | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-04-24 · PO | TBL 0–2 FLA | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-04-22 · PO | TBL 2–6 FLA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-04-15 | TBL 5–1 FLA | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-03-03 | TBL 1–2 FLA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-12-23 | TBL 4–0 FLA | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-12-22 | TBL 2–4 FLA | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-04-29 · PO | TBL 1–6 FLA | 0G 0A 2S | 2G 1A 8S |
Latest 12 of 37 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)
Carter Verhaeghe
3games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ CAROpp allows 13th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ SJSOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ ANA1.6 ptsOpp allows 9th-most FP to CLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Anthony Cirelli or Carter Verhaeghe in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Anthony Cirelli projects to 1.67 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Carter Verhaeghe's 1.50. Cirelli had 52 points in 71 games; Verhaeghe had 55 in 77 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 Carter Verhaeghe?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Anthony Cirelli leads in 19 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 Verhaeghe done against each other?
- In 37 games against each other in our data, Cirelli's team went 17–20. Cirelli had 16 points (3 goals) and Verhaeghe had 29 (17 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Cirelli or Verhaeghe?
- Against each other, Cirelli has won 3 and Verhaeghe 2 of their 5 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 →