Who to start · 2025-26
Gabriel Vilardi 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 Gabriel Vilardi's 1.76.
Vilardi had 69 points in 82 games; Rantanen had 77 in 64 games.
This week Vilardi 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 Vilardi's 1.3.
Mikko Rantanen has the better number in 20 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Vilardi's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.74, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.014, Corsi 48.7%.
Rantanen's biggest edges: Top skating speed 22.8, Penalty minutes 93, Plus/minus 0.
- • 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, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Gabriel Vilardi
1.76
fantasy points per game
Mikko Rantanen
2.21
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mikko Rantanen has the edge.
| Points per game from | Vilardi | Rantanen |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.69 | 0.64 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.51 | 0.81 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.17 | 0.25 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.21 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.02 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.20 | 0.22 |
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 Rantanen
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2020-21 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Vilardi 12G 12A, 62 SOG · Rantanen 14G 33A, 97 SOG
Vilardi's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 1–0 · Vilardi's defensive zone 0–1 (2020-21 to 2024-25)
Vilardi blocked 1 of Rantanen's shots; Rantanen blocked 0 of Vilardi's.
On the ice against each other (Vilardi's side)
15:13 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Vilardi's side
- Shot attempts
- 15–18
- 45.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.9–1.0
- 45.3%
- Goals
- 1–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Vilardi | Rantanen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-02 | WPG 0–3 DAL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2026-02-02 | WPG 3–4 DAL | 1G 1A 2S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2025-12-09 | WPG 3–4 DAL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 3A 0S |
| 2025-10-09 | WPG 4–5 DAL | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 2A 3S |
| 2025-05-17 · PO | WPG 1–2 DAL | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-05-15 · PO | WPG 4–0 DAL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-05-13 · PO | WPG 1–3 DAL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-05-11 · PO | WPG 2–5 DAL | 0G 1A 3S | 1G 2A 2S |
| 2025-05-09 · PO | WPG 4–0 DAL | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-05-07 · PO | WPG 2–3 DAL | 0G 1A 5S | 3G 0A 5S |
| 2025-03-14 | WPG 4–1 DAL | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-02-04 | WPG 3–0 CAR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
Latest 12 of 36 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)
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 −12.9 win%Likely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Gabriel Vilardi 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 Gabriel Vilardi's 1.76. Vilardi had 69 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, Gabriel Vilardi or Mikko Rantanen?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mikko Rantanen leads in 20 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Vilardi and Rantanen done against each other?
- In 36 games against each other in our data, Vilardi's team went 14–22. Vilardi had 24 points (12 goals) and Rantanen had 47 (14 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Vilardi or Rantanen?
- Against each other, Vilardi has won 1 and Rantanen 1 of their 2 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 →