Who to start · 2025-26
Mattias Ekholm vs Quinton Byfield
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Quinton Byfield projects to 1.57 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mattias Ekholm's 1.43.
Ekholm had 41 points in 82 games; Byfield had 49 in 79 games.
This week Ekholm has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Byfield has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Byfield for 1.4 ESPN points to Ekholm's 1.1.
They split the 34 stats both are ranked on 17–17.
Ekholm's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 59.6%, Forecheck xG /60 0.36, Offensive-zone time 45.7%.
Byfield's biggest edges: Goals above expected +0.7, 20+ mph bursts 297, Ascension score 56.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mattias Ekholm
1.43
fantasy points per game
Quinton Byfield
1.57
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Quinton Byfield has the edge.
| Points per game from | Ekholm | Byfield |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.13 | 0.57 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 0.30 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.07 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.15 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.67 | 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: Ekholm 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.
Ekholm 0G 7A, 31 SOG · Byfield 8G 15A, 49 SOG
Ekholm blocked 3 of Byfield's shots; Byfield blocked 0 of Ekholm's.
On the ice against each other (Ekholm's side)
26:47 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Ekholm's side
- Shot attempts
- 31–25
- 55.4%
- Expected goals
- 1.4–0.5
- 72.6%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Ekholm | Byfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-11 | EDM 0–1 LAK | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-02-26 | EDM 8–1 LAK | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-01-10 | EDM 3–4 LAK | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-01-13 | EDM 1–0 LAK | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-12-28 | EDM 3–4 LAK | 0G 0A 2S | 2G 1A 5S |
| 2024-05-01 · PO | EDM 4–3 LAK | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-04-28 · PO | EDM 1–0 LAK | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-04-26 · PO | EDM 6–1 LAK | 0G 1A 5S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-04-24 · PO | EDM 4–5 LAK | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2024-04-22 · PO | EDM 7–4 LAK | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-03-28 | EDM 4–1 LAK | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-02-26 | EDM 4–2 LAK | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
Latest 12 of 25 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.
Mattias Ekholm
3games (1 left)
1.1proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VANOpp allows 5th-most FP to DLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 5th-most FP to DLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.1 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to DLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)
Quinton Byfield
2games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ COLOpp allows 10th-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 Mattias Ekholm or Quinton Byfield in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Quinton Byfield projects to 1.57 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mattias Ekholm's 1.43. Ekholm had 41 points in 82 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, Mattias Ekholm or Quinton Byfield?
- On 2025-26 numbers they split 17–17 across 34 stats where both qualify.
- How have Ekholm and Byfield done against each other?
- In 25 games against each other in our data, Ekholm's team went 16–9. Ekholm had 7 points (0 goals) and Byfield had 23 (8 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 →