Who to start · 2025-26
Bryan Rust vs Dylan Cozens
In 2025-26, Bryan Rust scored 2.28 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Dylan Cozens's 1.90.
Rust had 65 points in 72 games; Cozens had 59 in 82 games.
This week Rust has 1 game left; Cozens has 1 left. We project Rust for 1.9 ESPN points to Cozens's 1.7.
Dylan Cozens has the better number in 18 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Rust's biggest edges: Blocked shots 71, On-ice PDO 1019, Luck Meter +32.
Cozens's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 435, Expected goals 59.4%, Sequence xG 59.7%.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Bryan Rust
2.28
fantasy points per game
Dylan Cozens
1.90
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Bryan Rust has the edge.
| Points per game from | Rust | Cozens |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.81 | 0.68 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.38 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.17 | 0.18 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.26 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.49 | 0.15 |
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: Rust vs Cozens
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2020-21 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Rust 4G 9A, 55 SOG · Cozens 0G 2A, 43 SOG
Rust blocked 0 of Cozens's shots; Cozens blocked 1 of Rust's.
On the ice against each other (Rust's side)
7:41 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Rust's side
- Shot attempts
- 5–7
- 41.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.4
- 22.2%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Rust | Cozens |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-26 | PIT 4–3 OTT | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-12-18 | PIT 0–4 OTT | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-03-30 | PIT 1–0 OTT | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-01-17 | PIT 5–2 BUF | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2024-10-16 | PIT 6–5 BUF | 1G 1A 6S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-01-06 | PIT 1–3 BUF | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-11-11 | PIT 4–0 BUF | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2022-12-10 | PIT 3–1 BUF | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2022-12-09 | PIT 4–3 BUF | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-11-02 | PIT 3–6 BUF | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-03-23 | PIT 3–4 BUF | 0G 2A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2021-11-16 | PIT 1–2 BUF | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
Latest 12 of 19 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.
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.
Bryan Rust
2games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHI
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL1.9 pts
Dylan Cozens
1games
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TOR1.7 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Bryan Rust or Dylan Cozens in fantasy hockey?
- In 2025-26, Bryan Rust scored 2.28 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Dylan Cozens's 1.90. Rust had 65 points in 72 games; Cozens had 59 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, Bryan Rust or Dylan Cozens?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Dylan Cozens leads in 18 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Rust and Cozens done against each other?
- In 19 games against each other in our data, Rust's team went 13–6. Rust had 13 points (4 goals) and Cozens had 2 (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 →