Who to start · 2025-26
Clayton Keller vs Mika Zibanejad
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mika Zibanejad projects to 2.27 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Clayton Keller's 2.15.
Keller had 88 points in 82 games; Zibanejad had 78 in 81 games.
This week Keller has 2 games left with 1 tough matchup; Zibanejad has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Keller for 2.9 ESPN points to Zibanejad's 1.4.
Clayton Keller has the better number in 20 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Keller's biggest edges: Plus/minus +21, Fenwick 56.5%, Penalty minutes 38.
Zibanejad's biggest edges: Goals above expected +5.8, Hits 105, Faceoffs won 574.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 2 PPP, 4 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Clayton Keller
2.15
fantasy points per game
Mika Zibanejad
2.27
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mika Zibanejad has the edge.
| Points per game from | Keller | Zibanejad |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.59 | 0.81 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.83 | 0.51 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.21 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.28 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.01 | 0.14 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.21 | 0.34 |
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: Keller vs Zibanejad
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.
Keller 10G 7A, 54 SOG · Zibanejad 3G 11A, 31 SOG
Keller's offensive zone 1–3 · neutral 0–0 · Keller's defensive zone 0–0 (2018-19 to 2024-25)
On the ice against each other (Keller's side)
13:25 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Keller's side
- Shot attempts
- 10–13
- 43.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.4
- 53.8%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Keller | Zibanejad |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-05 | UTA 3–2 NYR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2025-11-22 | UTA 3–2 NYR | 1G 0A 8S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-01-16 | UTA 3–5 NYR | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-10-12 | UTA 6–5 NYR | 2G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-03-30 | ARI 5–8 NYR | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-10-16 | ARI 1–2 NYR | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2022-11-13 | ARI 1–4 NYR | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-10-30 | ARI 2–3 NYR | 0G 1A 0S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2022-01-22 | ARI 3–7 NYR | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 3A 1S |
| 2021-12-15 | ARI 2–3 NYR | 1G 1A 8S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2019-10-22 | ARI 3–2 NYR | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2019-01-06 | ARI 5–0 NYR | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 3S |
Latest 12 of 15 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.
Clayton Keller
3games (2 left)
2.9proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs CHIOpp allows 4th-most FP to RWLikely vs Arvid Soderblom (.880)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ CBJ1.4 ptsOpp allows 8th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ NYRB2B1.4 ptsOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
Mika Zibanejad
4games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ BOSOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs TBLOpp allows 11th-most FP to CLikely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2BOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs John Gibson (.901)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA1.4 ptsOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Clayton Keller or Mika Zibanejad in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mika Zibanejad projects to 2.27 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Clayton Keller's 2.15. Keller had 88 points in 82 games; Zibanejad had 78 in 81 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, Clayton Keller or Mika Zibanejad?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Clayton Keller leads in 20 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Keller and Zibanejad done against each other?
- In 15 games against each other in our data, Keller's team went 6–9. Keller had 17 points (10 goals) and Zibanejad had 14 (3 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Keller or Zibanejad?
- Against each other, Keller has won 1 and Zibanejad 3 of their 4 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 →