Who to start · 2025-26
Dylan Cozens vs Mikko Rantanen
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mikko Rantanen projects to 2.21 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Dylan Cozens's 1.90.
Cozens had 59 points in 82 games; Rantanen had 77 in 64 games.
This week Cozens has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Rantanen has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Rantanen for 1.6 ESPN points to Cozens's 1.4.
Dylan Cozens has the better number in 19 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Cozens's biggest edges: Corsi 56.8%, Fenwick 57.3%, Goals above expected +2.0.
Rantanen's biggest edges: On-ice PDO 1046, Luck Meter +45, Plus/minus 0.
Head to head on the dot, Cozens leads Rantanen 11–7.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Dylan Cozens
1.90
fantasy points per game
Mikko Rantanen
2.34
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mikko Rantanen has the edge.
| Points per game from | Cozens | Rantanen |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.68 | 0.69 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 0.86 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.18 | 0.27 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.22 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.26 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.15 | 0.23 |
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 Rantanen
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Cozens 3G 4A, 18 SOG · Rantanen 8G 12A, 39 SOG
Cozens's offensive zone 2–1 · neutral 2–2 · Cozens's defensive zone 7–4 (2021-22 to 2024-25)
On the ice against each other (Cozens's side)
4:10 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Cozens's side
- Shot attempts
- 2–1
- 66.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.0
- 78.0%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cozens | Rantanen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-30 | OTT 1–6 DAL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 3A 3S |
| 2025-11-11 | OTT 2–3 DAL | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2025-02-27 | BUF 2–5 CAR | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2025-01-02 | BUF 5–6 COL | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2024-12-03 | BUF 4–5 COL | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-12-13 | BUF 1–5 COL | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 2A 4S |
| 2023-10-29 | BUF 4–0 COL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2022-12-15 | BUF 4–2 COL | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 8S |
| 2022-12-01 | BUF 4–6 COL | 1G 2A 1S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2022-01-30 | BUF 1–4 COL | 1G 0A 3S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2022-02-19 | BUF 3–5 COL | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 1A 4S |
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)
Mikko Rantanen
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs STLOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Joel Hofer (.910)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NSHB2B1.6 ptsOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge −13.3 win%Likely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Dylan Cozens or Mikko Rantanen in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mikko Rantanen projects to 2.21 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Dylan Cozens's 1.90. Cozens had 59 points in 82 games; Rantanen had 77 in 64 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 Mikko Rantanen?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Dylan Cozens leads in 19 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Cozens and Rantanen done against each other?
- In 11 games against each other in our data, Cozens's team went 2–9. Cozens had 7 points (3 goals) and Rantanen had 20 (8 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Cozens or Rantanen?
- Against each other, Cozens has won 11 and Rantanen 7 of their 18 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 →