Who to start · 2025-26
Brady Tkachuk vs Jeffrey Viel
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brady Tkachuk projects to 2.50 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Jeffrey Viel's 0.81.
Tkachuk had 59 points in 60 games; Viel had 10 in 45 games.
This week Tkachuk has 3 games left with 1 soft matchup; Viel has 2 left with 1 tough matchup. In ESPN default points scoring we project Tkachuk for 7.7 to Viel's 1.6 over the games left.
Brady Tkachuk has the better number in 28 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Tkachuk's biggest edges: Points 59, Shots on goal 221, Hardest shot 92.3.
Viel's biggest edges: Top skating speed 22.8, Blocked shots 21, Goals above expected −3.1.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Brady Tkachuk rates ahead, +11.3 to -2.9 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: Tkachuk is surging, 10 P in last 5 (0.75/GP before); Viel is cooling, On-ice xGF/60 1.97 (was 3.26).
- • 2026-27 so far: 9 GP, 6 G, 4 A, 5 PPP, 32 SOG.
- • Viel has played 7 of the Lightning's 9 games since Oct 1 (in and out of the lineup).
- • 2026-27 so far: 7 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
Florida Panthers · Tampa Bay Lightning · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brady Tkachuk
+11.3
category z-score total
Jeffrey Viel
-2.9
category z-score total
Under Standard (6 categories), Brady Tkachuk has the edge (Tkachuk wins 6, Viel wins 0 of 6 categories).
| Category | Tkachuk | Viel |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.48 | 0.05 |
| Assists / game | 0.55 | 0.11 |
| Plus/minus / game | 0.13 | -0.23 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.42 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal / game | 3.64 | 1.21 |
| Hits / game | 2.94 | 2.88 |
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 scoring choice is shared with Who Should I Start: saved on this device, and on your account when you are signed in.
Head-to-head: Tkachuk vs Viel
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2025-26 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Tkachuk 0G 0A, 3 SOG · Viel 0G 0A, 1 SOG
On the ice against each other (Tkachuk's side)
2:43 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Tkachuk's side
- Shot attempts
- 3–1
- 75.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.0
- 85.7%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Tkachuk | Viel |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-14 | OTT 2–0 ANA | 0G 0A 3S | 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
Oct 19 to Oct 25. 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 cover the games left: Edgehalla's rest-of-season rates per game, adjusted for each opponent's scoring allowed, in ESPN default points.
Scored in ESPN default points (G 2, A 1, PPP 0.5, SHP 0.5, SOG 0.1, HIT 0.1, BLK 0.5). Use your league's scoring
Brady Tkachuk
3games
7.7proj. ESPN default pts
- Wed, Oct 21 @ OTT2.5 ptsOpp allows 14th-most FP to LWLikely vs Linus Ullmark (.891)
- Sun, Oct 25 @ CHI2.7 ptsOpp allows 9th-most FP to LWLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
Jeffrey Viel
3games (2 left)
1.6proj. ESPN default pts
- Tue, Oct 20 @ VGKOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Carter Hart (.891)
- Fri, Oct 23 @ COL0.8 ptsOpp allows 9th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Scott Wedgewood (.921)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Brady Tkachuk or Jeffrey Viel in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brady Tkachuk projects to 2.50 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Jeffrey Viel's 0.81. Tkachuk had 59 points in 60 games; Viel had 10 in 45 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, Brady Tkachuk or Jeffrey Viel?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Brady Tkachuk leads in 28 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Tkachuk and Viel done against each other?
- In 1 games against each other in our data, Tkachuk's team went 1–0. Tkachuk had 0 points (0 goals) and Viel had 0 (0 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 →