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Who to start · 2025-26

Brandon Hagel vs Mika Zibanejad

Brandon HagelBrandon HagelLightning · Left wingvsMika ZibanejadMika ZibanejadRangers · Centre

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mika Zibanejad projects to 2.27 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Brandon Hagel's 2.15.

Hagel had 74 points in 71 games; Zibanejad had 78 in 81 games.

This week Hagel has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Zibanejad has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Hagel for 1.8 ESPN points to Zibanejad's 1.4.

Mika Zibanejad has the better number in 18 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

Hagel's biggest edges: Plus/minus +34, Penalty minutes 58, Ascension score 58.

Zibanejad's biggest edges: Goals above expected +5.8, Faceoffs won 574, Hits 105.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 6 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Brandon Hagel

2.15

fantasy points per game

Mika Zibanejad

2.27

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Mika Zibanejad has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromHagelZibanejad
Goals (+2)0.950.81
Assists (+1)0.500.51
Power-play points (+0.5)0.070.21
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.010.01
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.300.25
Hits (+0.1)0.060.14
Blocks (+0.5)0.250.34

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: Hagel vs Zibanejad

Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.

HagelZibanejad
9Team record in 22 meetings13
9Points in those games26

Hagel 6G 3A, 52 SOG · Zibanejad 12G 14A, 72 SOG

4Faceoffs against each other5

Hagel's offensive zone 2–2 · neutral 2–2 · Hagel's defensive zone 0–1 (2021-22 to 2026-27)

3Hits on each other5
0Shots blocked by the other2

Hagel blocked 0 of Zibanejad's shots; Zibanejad blocked 2 of Hagel's.

On the ice against each other (Hagel's side)

21:16 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27, from Hagel's side

Shot attempts
29–13
69.0%
Expected goals
1.8–0.3
87.3%
Goals
2–0

Games against each other

Games between Brandon Hagel and Mika Zibanejad
DateScoreHagelZibanejad
2026-10-01TBL 1–5 NYR0G 0A 3S1G 1A 3S
2026-04-15TBL 2–4 NYR0G 0A 5S1G 1A 3S
2025-11-29TBL 4–1 NYR2G 0A 5S0G 1A 1S
2025-11-12TBL 3–7 NYR0G 0A 0S0G 1A 2S
2025-04-17TBL 0–4 NYR0G 0A 2S2G 1A 3S
2025-04-07TBL 5–1 NYR1G 0A 1S1G 0A 4S
2024-12-28TBL 6–2 NYR0G 1A 0S0G 0A 5S
2024-03-14TBL 6–3 NYR0G 0A 1S0G 1A 2S
2024-02-07TBL 1–3 NYR1G 0A 3S0G 0A 2S
2023-12-30TBL 1–5 NYR0G 0A 1S0G 1A 2S
2023-04-05TBL 3–6 NYR1G 1A 4S0G 3A 3S
2022-12-29TBL 2–1 NYR0G 0A 6S1G 0A 3S

Latest 12 of 22 meetings.

Every stat, side by side

Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.

HagelZibanejad

Fantasy box score

Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

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.

Brandon Hagel

2games (1 left)

1.8proj. ESPN pts

  • Thu, Oct 1 @ NYR
    Opp allows 7th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH1.8 pts
    Opp allows 10th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)

Mika Zibanejad

4games (1 left)

1.4proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 @ BOS
    Opp allows 5th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
  • Thu, Oct 1 vs TBL
    Opp allows 11th-most FP to CLikely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
  • Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2B
    Opp allows 4th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs John Gibson (.901)
  • Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA1.4 pts
    Opp allows 2nd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Brandon Hagel or Mika Zibanejad in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mika Zibanejad projects to 2.27 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Brandon Hagel's 2.15. Hagel had 74 points in 71 games; Zibanejad had 78 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, Brandon Hagel or Mika Zibanejad?
On 2025-26 numbers, Mika Zibanejad leads in 18 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
How have Hagel and Zibanejad done against each other?
In 22 games against each other in our data, Hagel's team went 9–13. Hagel had 9 points (6 goals) and Zibanejad had 26 (12 goals).
Who wins more faceoffs, Hagel or Zibanejad?
Against each other, Hagel has won 4 and Zibanejad 5 of their 9 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 →