Who to start · 2025-26
Gabriel Vilardi vs Joel Eriksson Ek
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Gabriel Vilardi projects to 1.76 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Joel Eriksson Ek's 1.70.
Vilardi had 69 points in 82 games; Eriksson Ek had 51 in 70 games.
This week Vilardi has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Eriksson Ek has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Vilardi for 1.3 ESPN points to Eriksson Ek's 1.3.
Joel Eriksson Ek has the better number in 22 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Vilardi's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 65.5%, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.74, Scoring chances 51.6%.
Eriksson Ek's biggest edges: Plus/minus +16, Hardest shot 91.4, Hits 106.
Head to head on the dot, Eriksson Ek leads Vilardi 35–30.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Gabriel Vilardi
1.76
fantasy points per game
Joel Eriksson Ek
1.70
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Gabriel Vilardi has the edge.
| Points per game from | Vilardi | Eriksson Ek |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.69 | 0.51 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.51 | 0.43 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.17 | 0.11 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.28 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.02 | 0.15 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.20 | 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: Vilardi vs Eriksson Ek
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2019-20 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Vilardi 7G 7A, 42 SOG · Eriksson Ek 7G 2A, 58 SOG
Vilardi's offensive zone 15–13 · neutral 11–13 · Vilardi's defensive zone 4–9 (2019-20 to 2025-26)
Vilardi blocked 1 of Eriksson Ek's shots; Eriksson Ek blocked 0 of Vilardi's.
On the ice against each other (Vilardi's side)
16:54 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Vilardi's side
- Shot attempts
- 13–27
- 32.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.7–0.7
- 48.6%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Vilardi | Eriksson Ek |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-27 | WPG 3–4 MIN | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-11-23 | WPG 0–3 MIN | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-10-28 | WPG 4–3 MIN | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-11-25 | WPG 4–1 MIN | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-04-06 | WPG 4–2 MIN | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-02-20 | WPG 6–3 MIN | 2G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2023-12-31 | WPG 3–2 MIN | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2023-12-30 | WPG 4–2 MIN | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 8S |
| 2023-02-21 | LAK 1–2 MIN | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-11-08 | LAK 1–0 MIN | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-10-15 | LAK 7–6 MIN | 1G 1A 2S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2022-04-10 | LAK 3–6 MIN | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
Latest 12 of 22 meetings.
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.
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)
Joel Eriksson Ek
2games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NSHOpp allows 10th-most FP to CLikely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs BOS1.3 ptsOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +12.8 win%Likely vs Michael DiPietro (1.000)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Gabriel Vilardi or Joel Eriksson Ek in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Gabriel Vilardi projects to 1.76 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Joel Eriksson Ek's 1.70. Vilardi had 69 points in 82 games; Eriksson Ek had 51 in 70 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, Gabriel Vilardi or Joel Eriksson Ek?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Joel Eriksson Ek leads in 22 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Vilardi and Eriksson Ek done against each other?
- In 22 games against each other in our data, Vilardi's team went 11–11. Vilardi had 14 points (7 goals) and Eriksson Ek had 9 (7 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Vilardi or Eriksson Ek?
- Against each other, Vilardi has won 30 and Eriksson Ek 35 of their 65 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 →