Who to start · 2025-26
Brent Burns vs Eeli Tolvanen
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Eeli Tolvanen projects to 1.71 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Brent Burns's 1.38.
Burns had 35 points in 82 games; Tolvanen had 36 in 78 games.
This week Burns has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Tolvanen has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Tolvanen for 1.3 ESPN points to Burns's 0.9.
Brent Burns has the better number in 20 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Burns's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 0, Plus/minus +33, High-danger chances 56.1%.
Tolvanen's biggest edges: Hits 187, Blocked shots 81, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.010.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brent Burns
1.38
fantasy points per game
Eeli Tolvanen
1.71
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Eeli Tolvanen has the edge.
| Points per game from | Burns | Tolvanen |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.27 | 0.48 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.33 | 0.26 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.07 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.20 | 0.17 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.03 | 0.24 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.55 | 0.49 |
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: Burns vs Tolvanen
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.
Burns 0G 3A, 24 SOG · Tolvanen 1G 2A, 16 SOG
Burns blocked 1 of Tolvanen's shots; Tolvanen blocked 0 of Burns's.
On the ice against each other (Burns's side)
4:12 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Burns's side
- Shot attempts
- 9–2
- 81.8%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.2
- 61.9%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Burns | Tolvanen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-16 | COL 2–0 SEA | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-03-12 | COL 5–1 SEA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-12-16 | COL 5–3 SEA | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-12-03 | CAR 2–4 SEA | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-10-26 | CAR 4–1 SEA | 0G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-10-26 | CAR 3–2 SEA | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-10-19 | CAR 4–7 SEA | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2022-04-12 | SJS 0–1 NSH | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-03-05 | SJS 0–8 NSH | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2021-10-26 | SJS 1–3 NSH | 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.
Brent Burns
2games (1 left)
0.9proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows 3rd-most FP to DLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL0.9 ptsOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to DSchedule edge +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
Eeli Tolvanen
4games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ BOSOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs TBLOpp allows the most FP to RWLikely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2BOpp allows 8th-most FP to RWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs John Gibson (.901)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA1.3 ptsOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Brent Burns or Eeli Tolvanen in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Eeli Tolvanen projects to 1.71 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Brent Burns's 1.38. Burns had 35 points in 82 games; Tolvanen had 36 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, Brent Burns or Eeli Tolvanen?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Brent Burns leads in 20 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Burns and Tolvanen done against each other?
- In 10 games against each other in our data, Burns's team went 5–5. Burns had 3 points (0 goals) and Tolvanen had 3 (1 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 →