Who to start · 2025-26
Matthew Knies vs William Nylander
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, William Nylander projects to 2.36 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Matthew Knies's 2.06.
Knies had 66 points in 79 games; Nylander had 79 in 65 games.
This week Knies has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Nylander has 1 left. We project Nylander for 2.1 ESPN points to Knies's 1.4.
William Nylander has the better number in 28 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Knies's biggest edges: Hits 152, Ascension score 56, Penalty minutes 29.
Nylander's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.036, Top skating speed 23.5, Transition attempts /60 1.67.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 4 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Matthew Knies
2.06
fantasy points per game
William Nylander
2.36
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, William Nylander has the edge.
| Points per game from | Knies | Nylander |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.80 | 1.05 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.57 | 0.67 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.12 | 0.14 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.19 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.02 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.19 | 0.24 |
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: Knies vs Nylander
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.
Knies blocked 1 of Nylander's shots; Nylander blocked 0 of Knies's.
Goals each scored with the other picking up an assist (as teammates).
On the ice together
161:47 at 5-on-5 over 32 games, 2025-26
- Shot attempts
- 135–175
- 43.5%
- Expected goals
- 5.6–9.5
- 37.0%
- Goals
- 12–11
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.
Matthew Knies
2games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs BUFOpp allows 10th-most FP to LWLikely vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.910)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs UTA1.4 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
William Nylander
3games (1 left)
2.1proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs MTLOpp allows 12th-most FP to RWLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
- Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2BOpp allows 14th-most FP to RWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT2.1 ptsLikely vs Linus Ullmark (.891)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Matthew Knies or William Nylander in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, William Nylander projects to 2.36 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Matthew Knies's 2.06. Knies had 66 points in 79 games; Nylander had 79 in 65 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, Matthew Knies or William Nylander?
- On 2025-26 numbers, William Nylander leads in 28 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
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 →