Who to start · 2025-26
Brock Nelson vs Eeli Tolvanen
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brock Nelson projects to 2.23 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Eeli Tolvanen's 1.71.
Nelson had 65 points in 81 games; Tolvanen had 36 in 78 games.
This week Nelson has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Tolvanen has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Nelson for 1.3 ESPN points to Tolvanen's 1.3.
Brock Nelson has the better number in 29 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Nelson's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 735, Fenwick 57.3%, Expected goals 60.0%.
Tolvanen's biggest edges: Hits 187, Ascension score 57, Transition attempts /60 1.47.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 2 A, 3 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brock Nelson
2.23
fantasy points per game
Eeli Tolvanen
1.71
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Brock Nelson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Nelson | Tolvanen |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.89 | 0.48 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.26 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.20 | 0.07 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.22 | 0.17 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.24 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.38 | 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: Nelson 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.
Nelson 2G 4A, 35 SOG · Tolvanen 1G 2A, 29 SOG
Nelson blocked 1 of Tolvanen's shots; Tolvanen blocked 1 of Nelson's.
On the ice against each other (Nelson's side)
5:13 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Nelson's side
- Shot attempts
- 4–6
- 40.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.1
- 72.7%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Nelson | Tolvanen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-16 | COL 2–0 SEA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-03-12 | COL 5–1 SEA | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-12-16 | COL 5–3 SEA | 1G 0A 7S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-12-05 | NYI 2–5 SEA | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-11-16 | NYI 2–3 SEA | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-02-13 | NYI 1–2 SEA | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-11-16 | NYI 3–4 SEA | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2023-02-07 | NYI 4–0 SEA | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2023-01-01 | NYI 1–4 SEA | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2022-11-17 | NYI 4–5 NSH | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2021-10-30 | NYI 2–3 NSH | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 4S |
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.
Brock Nelson
2games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows the most FP to CLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL1.3 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to CSchedule 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 Brock Nelson or Eeli Tolvanen in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brock Nelson projects to 2.23 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Eeli Tolvanen's 1.71. Nelson had 65 points in 81 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, Brock Nelson or Eeli Tolvanen?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Brock Nelson leads in 29 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Nelson and Tolvanen done against each other?
- In 11 games against each other in our data, Nelson's team went 4–7. Nelson had 6 points (2 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 →