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Who to start · 2025-26

Evan Bouchard vs Mika Zibanejad

Evan BouchardEvan BouchardOilers · DefencevsMika ZibanejadMika ZibanejadRangers · Centre

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Evan Bouchard projects to 3.14 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mika Zibanejad's 2.27.

Bouchard had 95 points in 82 games; Zibanejad had 78 in 81 games.

This week Bouchard has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Zibanejad has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Bouchard for 1.9 ESPN points to Zibanejad's 1.4.

Evan Bouchard has the better number in 22 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

Bouchard's biggest edges: Plus/minus +25, Ascension score 68, Expected goals 58.3%.

Zibanejad's biggest edges: Hits 105, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.001, Transition attempts /60 1.02.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 4 G, 4 A, 1 PPP, 10 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 6 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Evan Bouchard

3.14

fantasy points per game

Mika Zibanejad

2.27

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Evan Bouchard has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromBouchardZibanejad
Goals (+2)0.920.81
Assists (+1)1.030.51
Power-play points (+0.5)0.210.21
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.010.01
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.300.25
Hits (+0.1)0.040.14
Blocks (+0.5)0.630.34

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: Bouchard vs Zibanejad

Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2018-19 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.

BouchardZibanejad
7Team record in 11 meetings4
5Points in those games7

Bouchard 3G 2A, 27 SOG · Zibanejad 5G 2A, 30 SOG

1Shots blocked by the other1

Bouchard blocked 1 of Zibanejad's shots; Zibanejad blocked 1 of Bouchard's.

On the ice against each other (Bouchard's side)

10:02 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Bouchard's side

Shot attempts
9–13
40.9%
Expected goals
0.3–0.4
43.2%
Goals
0–0

Games against each other

Games between Evan Bouchard and Mika Zibanejad
DateScoreBouchardZibanejad
2025-10-30EDM 3–4 NYR0G 0A 1S0G 0A 0S
2025-10-14EDM 2–0 NYR0G 0A 4S0G 0A 3S
2025-03-16EDM 3–1 NYR0G 0A 1S0G 0A 4S
2024-11-23EDM 6–2 NYR1G 1A 3S0G 0A 3S
2023-12-22EDM 4–3 NYR0G 0A 4S1G 1A 4S
2023-10-26EDM 0–3 NYR0G 0A 3S0G 0A 3S
2023-02-17EDM 4–5 NYR0G 0A 1S1G 1A 3S
2022-11-26EDM 4–3 NYR2G 0A 4S0G 0A 1S
2022-01-03EDM 1–4 NYR0G 0A 1S0G 0A 1S
2021-11-05EDM 6–5 NYR0G 1A 3S2G 0A 4S
2018-10-13EDM 2–1 NYR0G 0A 2S1G 0A 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.

BouchardZibanejad

Fantasy box score

Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

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.

Evan Bouchard

3games (1 left)

1.9proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 vs VAN
    Opp allows 5th-most FP to DLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
  • Thu, Oct 1 @ VAN
    Opp allows 5th-most FP to DLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.9 pts
    Opp allows 3rd-fewest FP to DLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)

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)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Evan Bouchard or Mika Zibanejad in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Evan Bouchard projects to 3.14 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mika Zibanejad's 2.27. Bouchard had 95 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, Evan Bouchard or Mika Zibanejad?
On 2025-26 numbers, Evan Bouchard leads in 22 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
How have Bouchard and Zibanejad done against each other?
In 11 games against each other in our data, Bouchard's team went 7–4. Bouchard had 5 points (3 goals) and Zibanejad had 7 (5 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 →