Edgehalla

Who to start · 2025-26

Dylan Cozens 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 Dylan Cozens's 1.90.

Cozens had 59 points in 82 games; Zibanejad had 78 in 81 games.

This week Cozens has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Zibanejad has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Cozens for 1.4 ESPN points to Zibanejad's 1.4.

Mika Zibanejad has the better number in 18 of the 35 stats both are ranked on.

Cozens's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 59, Fenwick 57.3%, Top skating speed 23.7.

Zibanejad's biggest edges: Blocked shots 50, Luck Meter +47, On-ice PDO 1002.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 6 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Dylan Cozens

1.90

fantasy points per game

Mika Zibanejad

2.31

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Mika Zibanejad has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromCozensZibanejad
Goals (+2)0.680.84
Assists (+1)0.380.54
Power-play points (+0.5)0.180.22
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.000.01
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.250.27
Hits (+0.1)0.260.13
Blocks (+0.5)0.150.31

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

Dylan Cozens and Mika Zibanejad 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.

CozensZibanejad

Fantasy box score

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 pts
    Opp allows 7th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)

Mika Zibanejad

4games (1 left)

1.4proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 @ BOS
    Opp allows 5th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
  • Thu, Oct 1 vs TBL
    Opp allows 11th-most FP to CLikely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
  • Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2B
    Opp allows 4th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs John Gibson (.901)
  • Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA1.4 pts
    Opp allows 2nd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)

FAQ

Should I start Dylan Cozens 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 Dylan Cozens's 1.90. Cozens had 59 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, Dylan Cozens or Mika Zibanejad?
On 2025-26 numbers, Mika Zibanejad leads in 18 of 35 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 →