Who to start · 2025-26
Dylan Cozens vs Tomas Hertl
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Dylan Cozens projects to 1.90 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Tomas Hertl's 1.88.
Cozens had 59 points in 82 games; Hertl had 58 in 82 games.
This week Cozens has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Hertl has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Hertl for 2.0 ESPN points to Cozens's 1.4.
Dylan Cozens has the better number in 25 of the 35 stats both are ranked on.
Cozens's biggest edges: Goals above expected +2.0, Top skating speed 23.7, 20+ mph bursts 211.
Hertl's biggest edges: Blocked shots 45, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.06, Power-play share 78.1%.
Head to head on the dot, Hertl leads Cozens 16–14.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 9 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Dylan Cozens
1.90
fantasy points per game
Tomas Hertl
1.82
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Dylan Cozens has the edge.
| Points per game from | Cozens | Hertl |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.68 | 0.59 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 0.41 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.18 | 0.16 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.26 | 0.14 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.15 | 0.27 |
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 Hertl
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 4G 6A, 24 SOG · Hertl 3G 3A, 17 SOG
Cozens's offensive zone 4–3 · neutral 3–3 · Cozens's defensive zone 7–10 (2021-22 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Cozens's side)
13:16 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Cozens's side
- Shot attempts
- 17–15
- 53.1%
- Expected goals
- 0.7–0.6
- 54.6%
- Goals
- 2–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cozens | Hertl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-25 | OTT 7–1 VGK | 2G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2025-11-26 | OTT 4–3 VGK | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-01-04 | BUF 1–3 VGK | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-01-27 | BUF 5–2 SJS | 1G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-01-15 | BUF 3–0 SJS | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-02-18 | BUF 4–2 SJS | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-12-04 | BUF 6–3 SJS | 0G 3A 6S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2022-01-06 | BUF 2–3 SJS | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2021-11-02 | BUF 3–5 SJS | 0G 1A 1S | 2G 1A 3S |
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)
Tomas Hertl
3games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs CHIOpp allows 8th-most FP to CLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs ANAOpp allows 9th-most FP to CLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ VAN2.0 ptsOpp allows 6th-most FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Dylan Cozens or Tomas Hertl 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 Tomas Hertl's 1.88. Cozens had 59 points in 82 games; Hertl had 58 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 Tomas Hertl?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Dylan Cozens leads in 25 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 Hertl done against each other?
- In 9 games against each other in our data, Cozens's team went 6–3. Cozens had 10 points (4 goals) and Hertl had 6 (3 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Cozens or Hertl?
- Against each other, Cozens has won 14 and Hertl 16 of their 30 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 →