Who to start · 2025-26
Bowen Byram vs John Tavares
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, John Tavares projects to 1.80 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Bowen Byram's 1.37.
Byram had 42 points in 82 games; Tavares had 71 in 82 games.
This week Byram has 1 game left; Tavares has 1 left. We project Byram for 1.7 ESPN points to Tavares's 1.7.
They split the 34 stats both are ranked on 17–17.
Byram's biggest edges: Plus/minus +15, Ascension score 59, 20+ mph bursts 107.
Tavares's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.34, Hardest shot 88.5, Goals above expected −1.0.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Bowen Byram
1.37
fantasy points per game
John Tavares
1.80
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, John Tavares has the edge.
| Points per game from | Byram | Tavares |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.24 | 0.67 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.33 | 0.49 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.04 | 0.11 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.12 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.09 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.59 | 0.22 |
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 Tavares
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 1G 3A, 16 SOG · Tavares 6G 7A, 28 SOG
Byram blocked 2 of Tavares's shots; Tavares blocked 0 of Byram's.
On the ice against each other (Byram's side)
25:19 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Byram's side
- Shot attempts
- 27–22
- 55.1%
- Expected goals
- 0.9–1.3
- 42.1%
- Goals
- 2–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Byram | Tavares |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-14 | BUF 3–2 TOR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2026-01-27 | BUF 7–4 TOR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-10-25 | BUF 3–4 TOR | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 5S |
| 2025-10-24 | BUF 5–3 TOR | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-04-15 | BUF 0–4 TOR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-12-20 | BUF 3–6 TOR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2024-12-15 | BUF 3–5 TOR | 0G 1A 3S | 3G 0A 6S |
| 2024-03-30 | BUF 0–3 TOR | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2024-02-24 | COL 3–4 TOR | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-03-15 | COL 2–1 TOR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-01-08 | COL 5–4 TOR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2021-12-01 | COL 3–8 TOR | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 2A 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.
Bowen Byram
3games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ VGK
- Thu, Oct 1 @ UTA
- Sat, Oct 3 @ BUF1.7 ptsSchedule edge −1.0 win%
John Tavares
3games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs MTL
- Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2BSchedule edge −9.3 win%
- Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT1.7 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Bowen Byram or John Tavares in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, John Tavares projects to 1.80 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Bowen Byram's 1.37. Byram had 42 points in 82 games; Tavares had 71 in 82 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 John Tavares?
- On 2025-26 numbers they split 17–17 across 34 stats where both qualify.
- How have Byram and Tavares done against each other?
- In 12 games against each other in our data, Byram's team went 5–7. Byram had 4 points (1 goals) and Tavares had 13 (6 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 →