Who to start · 2025-26
Darnell Nurse vs Gabriel Vilardi
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Darnell Nurse projects to 1.83 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Gabriel Vilardi's 1.77.
Nurse had 24 points in 82 games; Vilardi had 69 in 82 games.
This week Nurse has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Vilardi has 2 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Vilardi for 2.9 ESPN points to Nurse's 2.1.
Gabriel Vilardi has the better number in 17 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Nurse's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 0.90, Hits 137, 20+ mph bursts 101.
Vilardi's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.74, On-ice PDO 1018, Offensive-zone time 44.8%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Darnell Nurse
1.78
fantasy points per game
Gabriel Vilardi
1.77
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Darnell Nurse has the edge.
| Points per game from | Nurse | Vilardi |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.17 | 0.73 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.21 | 0.48 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.15 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.20 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.17 | 0.02 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 1.02 | 0.21 |
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
Darnell Nurse and Gabriel Vilardi have no head-to-head events in our data yet (regular season and playoffs since 2019-20).
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.
Darnell Nurse
2games (1 left)
2.1proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs FLAOpp allows 13th-most FP to DLikely vs Akira Schmid (.892)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs LAK2.1 ptsOpp allows 3rd-most FP to DLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
Gabriel Vilardi
2games
2.9proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs BOS1.3 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −4.0 win%vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ DET1.6 ptsLikely vs John Gibson (.901)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Darnell Nurse or Gabriel Vilardi in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Darnell Nurse projects to 1.83 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Gabriel Vilardi's 1.77. Nurse had 24 points in 82 games; Vilardi had 69 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, Darnell Nurse or Gabriel Vilardi?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Gabriel Vilardi leads in 17 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
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 →