Who to start · 2025-26
Chandler Stephenson 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 Chandler Stephenson's 1.47.
Stephenson had 49 points in 80 games; Nylander had 79 in 65 games.
This week Stephenson has 2 games left with 1 soft matchup; Nylander has 1 left. We project Stephenson for 3.0 ESPN points to Nylander's 2.1.
William Nylander has the better number in 27 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Stephenson's biggest edges: Blocked shots 56, Faceoffs won 759, Ascension score 51.
Nylander's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.67, Offensive-zone start % 66.1%, Forecheck xG /60 0.33.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Chandler Stephenson
1.47
fantasy points per game
William Nylander
2.36
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, William Nylander has the edge.
| Points per game from | Stephenson | Nylander |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.50 | 1.05 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.39 | 0.67 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.09 | 0.14 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.12 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.02 | 0.02 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.33 | 0.24 |
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 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.
Stephenson 1G 6A, 15 SOG · Nylander 5G 9A, 39 SOG
Stephenson's offensive zone 0–1 · neutral 0–0 · Stephenson's defensive zone 2–5 (2019-20 to 2025-26)
Stephenson blocked 1 of Nylander's shots; Nylander blocked 0 of Stephenson's.
On the ice against each other (Stephenson's side)
3:52 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Stephenson's side
- Shot attempts
- 3–4
- 42.9%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.2
- 47.7%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Stephenson | Nylander |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-10-18 | SEA 4–3 TOR | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2025-02-06 | SEA 1–3 TOR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-10-31 | SEA 1–4 TOR | 0G 0A 1S | 2G 0A 6S |
| 2024-02-27 | VGK 6–2 TOR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2024-02-22 | VGK 3–7 TOR | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-11-08 | VGK 4–3 TOR | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2022-10-24 | VGK 3–1 TOR | 1G 0A 5S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2022-01-11 | VGK 3–4 TOR | 0G 1A 0S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2021-11-02 | VGK 0–4 TOR | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 1A 5S |
| 2019-10-16 | WSH 4–3 TOR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2019-02-21 | WSH 3–2 TOR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2019-01-23 | WSH 3–6 TOR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 3A 3S |
Latest 12 of 14 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)
3.0proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ CGYOpp allows 2nd-most FP to CLikely vs Dustin Wolf (.899)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ EDM1.5 ptsOpp allows 9th-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)
William Nylander
3games (1 left)
2.1proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs MTLOpp allows 9th-most FP to RWLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
- Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2BOpp allows 10th-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 Chandler Stephenson 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 Chandler Stephenson's 1.47. Stephenson had 49 points in 80 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, Chandler Stephenson or William Nylander?
- On 2025-26 numbers, William Nylander leads in 27 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 Nylander done against each other?
- In 14 games against each other in our data, Stephenson's team went 8–6. Stephenson had 7 points (1 goals) and Nylander had 14 (5 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Stephenson or Nylander?
- Against each other, Stephenson has won 2 and Nylander 6 of their 8 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 →