Who to start · 2025-26
Mathew Barzal vs William Eklund
In 2025-26, Mathew Barzal scored 1.82 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to William Eklund's 1.62.
Barzal had 72 points in 81 games; Eklund had 53 in 78 games.
This week Barzal has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Eklund has 1 left. We project Barzal for 1.4 ESPN points to Eklund's 1.2.
Mathew Barzal has the better number in 25 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Barzal's biggest edges: Plus/minus +10, Forecheck xG /60 0.36, Offensive-zone start % 62.4%.
Eklund's biggest edges: Hardest shot 89.3, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.37, Hits 72.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mathew Barzal
1.82
fantasy points per game
William Eklund
1.62
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mathew Barzal has the edge.
| Points per game from | Barzal | Eklund |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.47 | 0.38 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.65 | 0.49 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.12 | 0.10 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.23 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.09 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.31 | 0.33 |
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: Barzal vs Eklund
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2023-24 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Barzal 2G 3A, 11 SOG · Eklund 1G 3A, 11 SOG
Barzal blocked 1 of Eklund's shots; Eklund blocked 0 of Barzal's.
On the ice against each other (Barzal's side)
8:35 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Barzal's side
- Shot attempts
- 5–11
- 31.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.3
- 32.1%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Barzal | Eklund |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-07 | NYI 2–1 SJS | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-10-21 | NYI 4–3 SJS | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-01-18 | NYI 4–1 SJS | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-03-07 | NYI 7–2 SJS | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-12-05 | NYI 4–5 SJS | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 2A 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.
Mathew Barzal
2games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ TOROpp allows 7th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Anthony Stolarz (.893)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs NJD1.4 ptsOpp allows 8th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +4.1 win%vs Nico Daws (.908)
William Eklund
1games
1.2proj. ESPN pts
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TOR1.2 ptsOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mathew Barzal or William Eklund in fantasy hockey?
- In 2025-26, Mathew Barzal scored 1.82 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to William Eklund's 1.62. Barzal had 72 points in 81 games; Eklund had 53 in 78 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, Mathew Barzal or William Eklund?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mathew Barzal leads in 25 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Barzal and Eklund done against each other?
- In 5 games against each other in our data, Barzal's team went 4–1. Barzal had 5 points (2 goals) and Eklund had 4 (1 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 →