Who to start · 2025-26
Anthony Cirelli vs Quinton Byfield
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Anthony Cirelli projects to 1.67 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Quinton Byfield's 1.57.
Cirelli had 52 points in 71 games; Byfield had 49 in 79 games.
This week Cirelli has 1 game left; Byfield has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Cirelli for 1.5 ESPN points to Byfield's 1.4.
Anthony Cirelli has the better number in 21 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Cirelli's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.37, On-ice PDO 1052, Luck Meter +53.
Byfield's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.78, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.42, 20+ mph bursts 297.
Head to head on the dot, Cirelli leads Byfield 12–4.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Anthony Cirelli
1.67
fantasy points per game
Quinton Byfield
1.57
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Anthony Cirelli has the edge.
| Points per game from | Cirelli | Byfield |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.61 | 0.57 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 0.30 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.07 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.37 | 0.32 |
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 Byfield
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2022-23 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Cirelli 2G 2A, 11 SOG · Byfield 0G 1A, 9 SOG
Cirelli's offensive zone 4–2 · neutral 5–0 · Cirelli's defensive zone 3–2 (2024-25 to 2025-26)
Cirelli blocked 1 of Byfield's shots; Byfield blocked 0 of Cirelli's.
On the ice against each other (Cirelli's side)
13:10 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Cirelli's side
- Shot attempts
- 19–11
- 63.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.2
- 66.0%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cirelli | Byfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-01 | TBL 5–3 LAK | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-12-18 | TBL 1–2 LAK | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-01-30 | TBL 3–0 LAK | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-01-04 | TBL 1–2 LAK | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-03-23 | TBL 3–4 LAK | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-01-09 | TBL 3–2 LAK | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-01-28 | TBL 5–2 LAK | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
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)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 10th-most FP to CLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH1.5 ptsSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)
Quinton Byfield
2games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ COLOpp allows 8th-most FP to RWLikely vs Mackenzie Blackwood (.903)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ SJS1.4 ptsOpp allows 7th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge −3.2 win%Likely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Anthony Cirelli or Quinton Byfield 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 Quinton Byfield's 1.57. Cirelli had 52 points in 71 games; Byfield had 49 in 79 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 Quinton Byfield?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Anthony Cirelli leads in 21 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 Byfield done against each other?
- In 7 games against each other in our data, Cirelli's team went 4–3. Cirelli had 4 points (2 goals) and Byfield had 1 (0 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Cirelli or Byfield?
- Against each other, Cirelli has won 12 and Byfield 4 of their 16 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 →