Who to start · 2025-26
Bowen Byram vs Jake Guentzel
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jake Guentzel projects to 2.20 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Bowen Byram's 1.37.
Byram had 42 points in 82 games; Guentzel had 88 in 81 games.
This week Byram has 1 game left; Guentzel has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Byram for 2.0 ESPN points to Guentzel's 1.5.
Jake Guentzel has the better number in 25 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Byram's biggest edges: Top skating speed 22.9, 20+ mph bursts 107, Faceoffs won 0.
Guentzel's biggest edges: Goals above expected +1.6, Forecheck xG /60 0.32, High-danger chances 55.6%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Bowen Byram
1.37
fantasy points per game
Jake Guentzel
2.20
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Jake Guentzel has the edge.
| Points per game from | Byram | Guentzel |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.24 | 0.88 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.33 | 0.58 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.04 | 0.17 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.12 | 0.27 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.59 | 0.24 |
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: Byram vs Guentzel
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Byram 0G 7A, 22 SOG · Guentzel 9G 5A, 46 SOG
Byram blocked 2 of Guentzel's shots; Guentzel blocked 0 of Byram's.
On the ice against each other (Byram's side)
15:47 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Byram's side
- Shot attempts
- 9–14
- 39.1%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.8
- 33.4%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Byram | Guentzel |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-06 | BUF 4–2 TBL | 0G 2A 1S | 1G 1A 6S |
| 2026-03-08 | BUF 8–7 TBL | 0G 3A 7S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-02-28 | BUF 6–2 TBL | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2026-02-03 | BUF 3–4 TBL | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2025-04-13 | BUF 4–7 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 2G 0A 4S |
| 2025-04-05 | BUF 3–2 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-03-06 | BUF 5–6 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 3G 0A 3S |
| 2023-10-26 | COL 0–4 PIT | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2023-03-22 | COL 2–5 PIT | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2023-02-07 | COL 1–2 PIT | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 10S |
| 2022-04-05 | COL 6–4 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 7S |
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.
Bowen Byram
3games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ VGKOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Carter Hart (.891)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ UTAOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to DLikely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ BUF2.0 ptsOpp allows 11th-most FP to DSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.910)
Jake Guentzel
2games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 15th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH1.5 ptsOpp allows 9th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Bowen Byram or Jake Guentzel in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jake Guentzel projects to 2.20 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Bowen Byram's 1.37. Byram had 42 points in 82 games; Guentzel had 88 in 81 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, Bowen Byram or Jake Guentzel?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Jake Guentzel leads in 25 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Byram and Guentzel done against each other?
- In 11 games against each other in our data, Byram's team went 5–6. Byram had 7 points (0 goals) and Guentzel had 14 (9 goals).
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 →