Who to start · 2025-26
Anthony Cirelli vs William Eklund
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Anthony Cirelli projects to 1.67 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to William Eklund's 1.62.
Cirelli had 52 points in 71 games; Eklund had 53 in 78 games.
This week Cirelli has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Eklund has 1 left. We project Cirelli for 1.2 ESPN points to Eklund's 1.2.
Anthony Cirelli has the better number in 18 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Cirelli's biggest edges: Plus/minus +38, Goals above expected +3.0, On-ice PDO 1052.
Eklund's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 45.9%, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.37, Transition attempts /60 1.19.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Anthony Cirelli
1.69
fantasy points per game
William Eklund
1.62
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Anthony Cirelli has the edge.
| Points per game from | Cirelli | Eklund |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.65 | 0.38 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.41 | 0.49 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.10 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.09 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.33 | 0.33 |
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 Eklund
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2023-24 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Cirelli 2G 1A, 8 SOG · Eklund 1G 1A, 4 SOG
Cirelli's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 1–0 · Cirelli's defensive zone 0–0 (2024-25)
Cirelli blocked 0 of Eklund's shots; Eklund blocked 1 of Cirelli's.
On the ice against each other (Cirelli's side)
10:17 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Cirelli's side
- Shot attempts
- 7–5
- 58.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.6
- 23.2%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cirelli | Eklund |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-20 | TBL 4–1 SJS | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2026-01-03 | TBL 7–3 SJS | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-12-05 | TBL 8–1 SJS | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-03-21 | TBL 4–1 SJS | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2023-10-26 | TBL 6–0 SJS | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
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)
William Eklund
1games
1.2proj. ESPN pts
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TOR1.2 ptsOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Anthony Cirelli or William Eklund 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 William Eklund's 1.62. Cirelli had 52 points in 71 games; Eklund had 53 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 William Eklund?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Anthony Cirelli leads in 18 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Cirelli and Eklund done against each other?
- In 5 games against each other in our data, Cirelli's team went 5–0. Cirelli had 3 points (2 goals) and Eklund had 2 (1 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Cirelli or Eklund?
- Against each other, Cirelli has won 1 and Eklund 0 of their 1 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 →