Who to start · 2025-26
Bryan Rust vs William Nylander
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, William Nylander projects to 2.36 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Bryan Rust's 2.28.
Rust had 65 points in 72 games; Nylander had 79 in 65 games.
This week Rust has 1 game left; Nylander has 1 left. We project Rust for 2.2 ESPN points to Nylander's 2.1.
Bryan Rust has the better number in 18 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Rust's biggest edges: Blocked shots 71, Plus/minus 0, High-danger chances 51.4%.
Nylander's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.67, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.036, Faceoffs won 31.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Bryan Rust
2.28
fantasy points per game
William Nylander
2.30
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, William Nylander has the edge.
| Points per game from | Rust | Nylander |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.81 | 0.92 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.75 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.17 | 0.16 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.02 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.49 | 0.20 |
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 Nylander
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Rust 6G 12A, 43 SOG · Nylander 12G 8A, 43 SOG
On the ice against each other (Rust's side)
13:05 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Rust's side
- Shot attempts
- 12–13
- 48.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.6
- 32.3%
- Goals
- 0–5
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Rust | Nylander |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-23 | PIT 3–6 TOR | 1G 0A 3S | 2G 2A 3S |
| 2025-11-29 | PIT 2–7 TOR | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-11-03 | PIT 3–4 TOR | 0G 1A 2S | 2G 1A 5S |
| 2025-03-02 | PIT 5–6 TOR | 1G 2A 4S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2024-12-07 | PIT 5–2 TOR | 1G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2024-10-12 | PIT 2–4 TOR | 0G 0A 2S | 2G 0A 4S |
| 2024-04-08 | PIT 2–3 TOR | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-11-26 | PIT 1–4 TOR | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2022-11-15 | PIT 2–5 TOR | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2022-11-11 | PIT 4–2 TOR | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2022-02-17 | PIT 1–4 TOR | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2021-11-20 | PIT 2–0 TOR | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
Latest 12 of 18 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)
2.2proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 5th-most FP to RWLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL2.2 ptsOpp allows 12th-most FP to RWLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
William Nylander
3games (1 left)
2.1proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs MTLOpp allows 12th-most FP to RWLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
- Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2BOpp allows 14th-most FP to RWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT2.1 ptsLikely vs Linus Ullmark (.891)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Bryan Rust or William Nylander in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, William Nylander projects to 2.36 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Bryan Rust's 2.28. Rust had 65 points in 72 games; Nylander had 79 in 65 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 William Nylander?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Bryan Rust 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 Nylander done against each other?
- In 18 games against each other in our data, Rust's team went 6–12. Rust had 18 points (6 goals) and Nylander had 20 (12 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 →