Who to start · 2025-26
Anthony Cirelli vs Martin Necas
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Martin Necas projects to 2.40 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Anthony Cirelli's 1.67.
Cirelli had 52 points in 71 games; Necas had 100 in 78 games.
This week Cirelli has 1 game left; Necas has 1 left. We project Necas for 2.5 ESPN points to Cirelli's 1.7.
Martin Necas has the better number in 23 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Cirelli's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 −0.002, Ascension score 55, Faceoffs won 518.
Necas's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.57, Offensive-zone time 45.5%, Transition attempts /60 1.37.
Head to head on the dot, Necas leads Cirelli 11–6.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Anthony Cirelli
1.67
fantasy points per game
Martin Necas
2.40
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Martin Necas has the edge.
| Points per game from | Cirelli | Necas |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.61 | 0.91 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 0.81 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.14 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.27 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.11 |
| 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 Necas
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 2G 4A, 35 SOG · Necas 6G 8A, 52 SOG
Cirelli's offensive zone 1–2 · neutral 1–2 · Cirelli's defensive zone 4–7 (2018-19 to 2024-25)
Cirelli blocked 1 of Necas's shots; Necas blocked 0 of Cirelli's.
On the ice against each other (Cirelli's side)
6:00 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Cirelli's side
- Shot attempts
- 8–5
- 61.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.4
- 43.8%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cirelli | Necas |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-06 | TBL 4–2 COL | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-11-04 | TBL 2–3 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-01-07 | TBL 3–2 CAR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-10-11 | TBL 4–1 CAR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-11-24 | TBL 8–2 CAR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-11-11 | TBL 0–4 CAR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-10-24 | TBL 3–0 CAR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-03-28 | TBL 4–0 CAR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-03-05 | TBL 0–6 CAR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 3A 2S |
| 2022-03-29 | TBL 4–3 CAR | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-03-22 | TBL 2–3 CAR | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2021-11-09 | TBL 1–2 CAR | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 3S |
Latest 12 of 24 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)
1.7proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYR
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH1.7 ptsSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Martin Necas
2games (1 left)
2.5proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAK
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL2.5 ptsSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Anthony Cirelli or Martin Necas in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Martin Necas projects to 2.40 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Anthony Cirelli's 1.67. Cirelli had 52 points in 71 games; Necas had 100 in 78 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 Martin Necas?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Martin Necas leads in 23 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Cirelli and Necas done against each other?
- In 24 games against each other in our data, Cirelli's team went 14–10. Cirelli had 6 points (2 goals) and Necas had 14 (6 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Cirelli or Necas?
- Against each other, Cirelli has won 6 and Necas 11 of their 17 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 →