Who to start · 2025-26
Mattias Ekholm 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 Mattias Ekholm's 1.43.
Ekholm had 41 points in 82 games; Nylander had 79 in 65 games.
This week Ekholm has 1 game left; Nylander has 1 left. We project Nylander for 2.1 ESPN points to Ekholm's 1.4.
William Nylander has the better number in 17 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Ekholm's biggest edges: Plus/minus +32, Expected goals 58.4%, Sequence xG 58.4%.
Nylander's biggest edges: Goals above expected +5.0, Luck Meter +74, Power-play share 71.2%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mattias Ekholm
1.43
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 | Ekholm | Nylander |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.13 | 1.05 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 0.67 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.14 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.15 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.02 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.67 | 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: Ekholm vs Nylander
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Ekholm 3G 4A, 32 SOG · Nylander 4G 8A, 42 SOG
Ekholm blocked 3 of Nylander's shots; Nylander blocked 0 of Ekholm's.
On the ice against each other (Ekholm's side)
8:03 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Ekholm's side
- Shot attempts
- 8–2
- 80.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.1
- 68.5%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Ekholm | Nylander |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-03 | EDM 2–5 TOR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-12-13 | EDM 6–3 TOR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-11-16 | EDM 3–4 TOR | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-03-23 | EDM 3–6 TOR | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2024-01-16 | EDM 4–2 TOR | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2023-03-11 | EDM 4–7 TOR | 1G 0A 4S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2023-03-01 | EDM 5–2 TOR | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-01-11 | NSH 1–2 TOR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 4S |
| 2022-03-19 | NSH 6–3 TOR | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2021-11-16 | NSH 0–3 TOR | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2020-01-27 | NSH 2–5 TOR | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2019-03-19 | NSH 3–0 TOR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
Latest 12 of 15 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)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VAN
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VAN
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.4 pts
William Nylander
3games (1 left)
2.1proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs MTL
- Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2BSchedule edge −9.3 win%
- Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT2.1 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mattias Ekholm 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 Mattias Ekholm's 1.43. Ekholm had 41 points in 82 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, Mattias Ekholm or William Nylander?
- On 2025-26 numbers, William Nylander leads in 17 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Ekholm and Nylander done against each other?
- In 15 games against each other in our data, Ekholm's team went 6–9. Ekholm had 7 points (3 goals) and Nylander had 12 (4 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 →