Who to start · 2025-26
Dylan Cozens vs Gabriel Vilardi
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Dylan Cozens projects to 1.90 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Gabriel Vilardi's 1.76.
Cozens had 59 points in 82 games; Vilardi had 69 in 82 games.
This week Cozens has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Vilardi has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Cozens for 1.4 ESPN points to Vilardi's 1.3.
Dylan Cozens has the better number in 23 of the 35 stats both are ranked on.
Cozens's biggest edges: Hits 215, 20+ mph bursts 211, Top skating speed 23.7.
Vilardi's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.74, On-ice PDO 1018, Blocked shots 35.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Dylan Cozens
1.90
fantasy points per game
Gabriel Vilardi
1.77
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Dylan Cozens has the edge.
| Points per game from | Cozens | Vilardi |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.68 | 0.73 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 0.48 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.18 | 0.15 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.26 | 0.02 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.15 | 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: Cozens vs Vilardi
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2022-23 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Cozens 1G 4A, 12 SOG · Vilardi 1G 2A, 7 SOG
On the ice against each other (Cozens's side)
5:54 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Cozens's side
- Shot attempts
- 2–4
- 33.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.4
- 19.1%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cozens | Vilardi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-03 | OTT 4–2 WPG | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-12-15 | OTT 3–2 WPG | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-12-05 | BUF 2–3 WPG | 1G 0A 3S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2022-12-13 | BUF 6–0 LAK | 0G 3A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
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.
Dylan Cozens
1games
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TOR1.4 ptsOpp allows 7th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
Gabriel Vilardi
2games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs BOSOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ DET1.3 ptsOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to CLikely vs John Gibson (.901)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Dylan Cozens or Gabriel Vilardi in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Dylan Cozens projects to 1.90 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Gabriel Vilardi's 1.76. Cozens had 59 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, Dylan Cozens or Gabriel Vilardi?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Dylan Cozens leads in 23 of 35 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Cozens and Vilardi done against each other?
- In 4 games against each other in our data, Cozens's team went 3–1. Cozens had 5 points (1 goals) and Vilardi had 3 (1 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 →