Who to start · 2025-26
John Tavares vs Rasmus Dahlin
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Rasmus Dahlin projects to 2.10 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to John Tavares's 1.80.
Tavares had 71 points in 82 games; Dahlin had 74 in 77 games.
This week Tavares has 1 game left; Dahlin has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Dahlin for 2.5 ESPN points to Tavares's 1.7.
Rasmus Dahlin has the better number in 24 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Tavares's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.027, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.18, Offensive-zone start % 56.1%.
Dahlin's biggest edges: Plus/minus +18, Scoring chances 52.6%, High-danger chances 53.6%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
John Tavares
1.80
fantasy points per game
Rasmus Dahlin
2.10
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Rasmus Dahlin has the edge.
| Points per game from | Tavares | Dahlin |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.67 | 0.46 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.49 | 0.67 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.11 | 0.13 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.24 | 0.26 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.09 | 0.09 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.48 |
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: Tavares vs Dahlin
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.
Tavares 8G 16A, 59 SOG · Dahlin 7G 14A, 63 SOG
Tavares blocked 1 of Dahlin's shots; Dahlin blocked 2 of Tavares's.
On the ice against each other (Tavares's side)
21:47 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Tavares's side
- Shot attempts
- 19–24
- 44.2%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–1.4
- 16.3%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Tavares | Dahlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-14 | TOR 2–3 BUF | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2026-01-27 | TOR 4–7 BUF | 0G 1A 0S | 3G 2A 7S |
| 2025-10-25 | TOR 4–3 BUF | 1G 1A 5S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-10-24 | TOR 3–5 BUF | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-04-15 | TOR 4–0 BUF | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-12-20 | TOR 6–3 BUF | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2024-03-30 | TOR 3–0 BUF | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-03-06 | TOR 2–1 BUF | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2023-12-21 | TOR 3–9 BUF | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2023-11-04 | TOR 4–6 BUF | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2023-03-13 | TOR 3–4 BUF | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-02-21 | TOR 6–3 BUF | 1G 3A 3S | 0G 1A 3S |
Latest 12 of 23 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.
John Tavares
3games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs MTLOpp allows 12th-most FP to C
- Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2BOpp allows 13th-most FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%
- Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT1.7 pts
Rasmus Dahlin
2games (1 left)
2.5proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ CBJOpp allows 8th-fewest FP to D
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CHI2.5 ptsOpp allows 4th-most FP to D
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start John Tavares or Rasmus Dahlin in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Rasmus Dahlin projects to 2.10 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to John Tavares's 1.80. Tavares had 71 points in 82 games; Dahlin had 74 in 77 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, John Tavares or Rasmus Dahlin?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Rasmus Dahlin leads in 24 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Tavares and Dahlin done against each other?
- In 23 games against each other in our data, Tavares's team went 13–10. Tavares had 24 points (8 goals) and Dahlin had 21 (7 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 →