Who to start · 2025-26
Jake Guentzel vs Quinton Byfield
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jake Guentzel projects to 2.21 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Quinton Byfield's 1.57.
Guentzel had 88 points in 81 games; Byfield had 49 in 79 games.
This week Guentzel has 1 game left; Byfield has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Guentzel for 1.9 ESPN points to Byfield's 1.4.
Jake Guentzel has the better number in 26 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Guentzel's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 63.0%, Luck Meter +40, Forecheck xG /60 0.32.
Byfield's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.42, Hardest shot 88.9, Top skating speed 23.2.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Jake Guentzel
2.21
fantasy points per game
Quinton Byfield
1.57
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Jake Guentzel has the edge.
| Points per game from | Guentzel | Byfield |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.88 | 0.57 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.58 | 0.30 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.17 | 0.07 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.28 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.24 | 0.32 |
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: Guentzel vs Byfield
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.
Guentzel 2G 5A, 24 SOG · Byfield 0G 2A, 16 SOG
Guentzel's offensive zone 1–3 · neutral 0–2 · Guentzel's defensive zone 1–0 (2024-25 to 2025-26)
Guentzel blocked 0 of Byfield's shots; Byfield blocked 1 of Guentzel's.
On the ice against each other (Guentzel's side)
17:08 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Guentzel's side
- Shot attempts
- 19–14
- 57.6%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.6
- 44.0%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Guentzel | Byfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-01 | TBL 5–3 LAK | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-12-18 | TBL 1–2 LAK | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-01-30 | TBL 3–0 LAK | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-01-04 | TBL 1–2 LAK | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-11-09 | PIT 4–3 LAK | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2023-02-11 | PIT 0–6 LAK | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2022-10-20 | PIT 6–1 LAK | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-01-30 | PIT 3–4 LAK | 0G 1A 6S | 0G 0A 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.
Jake Guentzel
2games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 10th-most FP to CLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH1.9 ptsSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)
Quinton Byfield
2games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ COLOpp allows 8th-most FP to RWLikely vs Mackenzie Blackwood (.903)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ SJS1.4 ptsOpp allows 7th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge −3.2 win%Likely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Jake Guentzel or Quinton Byfield in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jake Guentzel projects to 2.21 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Quinton Byfield's 1.57. Guentzel had 88 points in 81 games; Byfield had 49 in 79 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, Jake Guentzel or Quinton Byfield?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Jake Guentzel leads in 26 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Guentzel and Byfield done against each other?
- In 8 games against each other in our data, Guentzel's team went 4–4. Guentzel had 7 points (2 goals) and Byfield had 2 (0 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Guentzel or Byfield?
- Against each other, Guentzel has won 2 and Byfield 5 of their 7 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 →