Who to start · 2025-26
Chandler Stephenson vs Mikko Rantanen
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mikko Rantanen projects to 2.21 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Chandler Stephenson's 1.47.
Stephenson had 49 points in 80 games; Rantanen had 77 in 64 games.
This week Stephenson has 2 games left with 1 soft matchup; Rantanen has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Stephenson for 2.9 ESPN points to Rantanen's 1.6.
Mikko Rantanen has the better number in 26 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Stephenson's biggest edges: Goals above expected +2.9, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.23, Faceoffs won 759.
Rantanen's biggest edges: Sequence xG 54.3%, Expected goals 54.4%, Offensive-zone start % 63.2%.
Head to head on the dot, Stephenson leads Rantanen 12–11.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Chandler Stephenson
1.47
fantasy points per game
Mikko Rantanen
2.21
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mikko Rantanen has the edge.
| Points per game from | Stephenson | Rantanen |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.50 | 0.64 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.39 | 0.81 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.09 | 0.25 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.12 | 0.21 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.02 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.33 | 0.22 |
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: Stephenson vs Rantanen
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.
Stephenson 3G 8A, 41 SOG · Rantanen 15G 18A, 96 SOG
Stephenson's offensive zone 1–0 · neutral 2–1 · Stephenson's defensive zone 9–10 (2020-21 to 2024-25)
Stephenson blocked 1 of Rantanen's shots; Rantanen blocked 0 of Stephenson's.
On the ice against each other (Stephenson's side)
9:31 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Stephenson's side
- Shot attempts
- 10–14
- 41.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.9
- 24.3%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Stephenson | Rantanen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-26 | SEA 2–3 DAL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-11-09 | SEA 1–2 DAL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2025-03-31 | SEA 1–3 DAL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-03-29 | SEA 1–5 DAL | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 2A 4S |
| 2024-12-22 | SEA 2–5 COL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2024-11-05 | SEA 3–6 COL | 0G 1A 1S | 2G 0A 3S |
| 2024-10-22 | SEA 2–3 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-04-14 | VGK 4–3 COL | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 6S |
| 2024-01-10 | VGK 0–3 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 6S |
| 2023-11-04 | VGK 7–0 COL | 0G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2023-02-27 | VGK 0–3 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 2G 0A 3S |
| 2023-01-02 | VGK 3–2 COL | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 1A 3S |
Latest 12 of 34 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.
Chandler Stephenson
3games (2 left)
2.9proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ CGYOpp allows 2nd-most FP to CLikely vs Dustin Wolf (.899)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ EDM1.5 ptsOpp allows 12th-most FP to CLikely vs Tristan Jarry (.882)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs CGYB2B1.5 ptsOpp allows 2nd-most FP to CLikely vs Dustin Wolf (.899)
Mikko Rantanen
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs STLOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Joel Hofer (.910)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NSHB2B1.6 ptsOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge −12.9 win%Likely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Chandler Stephenson or Mikko Rantanen in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mikko Rantanen projects to 2.21 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Chandler Stephenson's 1.47. Stephenson had 49 points in 80 games; Rantanen had 77 in 64 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, Chandler Stephenson or Mikko Rantanen?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mikko Rantanen leads in 26 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Stephenson and Rantanen done against each other?
- In 34 games against each other in our data, Stephenson's team went 14–20. Stephenson had 11 points (3 goals) and Rantanen had 33 (15 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Stephenson or Rantanen?
- Against each other, Stephenson has won 12 and Rantanen 11 of their 23 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 →