Edgehalla

Who to start · 2025-26

Michael Bunting vs Sandis Vilmanis

SteadyOn-ice xGF/60 0.79 (was 1.84)

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Michael Bunting projects to 0.88 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sandis Vilmanis's 0.83.

Bunting had 33 points in 74 games; Vilmanis had 5 in 19 games.

This week Bunting has 2 games left with 1 soft matchup; Vilmanis has 3 left with 1 soft matchup. In ESPN default points scoring we project Vilmanis for 3.0 to Bunting's 1.9 over the games left.

Sandis Vilmanis has the better number in 2 of the 2 stats both are ranked on.

Vilmanis's biggest edges: Ascension score 70, Luck Meter +12.

In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Sandis Vilmanis rates ahead, -2.7 to -3.7 in summed category z-scores.

Role trend over the last 5 games: Bunting is steady, On-ice xGF/60 0.79 (was 1.84); Vilmanis is steady.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 7 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 9 SOG.
  • • Sandis Vilmanis is a rookie: 19 NHL games before this season.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 9 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 11 SOG.

Philadelphia Flyers · Florida Panthers · Who should I start? · Compare other players

Fantasy value: your scoring

Michael Bunting

-3.7

category z-score total

Sandis Vilmanis

-2.7

category z-score total

Under Standard (6 categories), Sandis Vilmanis has the edge (Bunting wins 4, Vilmanis wins 2 of 6 categories).

Per-stat breakdown under Standard (6 categories)
CategoryBuntingVilmanis
Goals / game0.130.10
Assists / game0.220.11
Plus/minus / game-0.45-0.12
Power-play points / game0.140.00
Shots on goal / game1.570.95
Hits / game0.642.42

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 scoring choice is shared with Who Should I Start: saved on this device, and on your account when you are signed in.

Head-to-head

Michael Bunting and Sandis Vilmanis have no head-to-head events in our data yet (regular season and playoffs since 2019-20).

Every stat, side by side

Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.

BuntingVilmanis

Fantasy box score

Special teams & discipline

This week's schedule

Oct 19 to Oct 25. 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 cover the games left: Edgehalla's rest-of-season rates per game, adjusted for each opponent's scoring allowed, in ESPN default points.

Scored in ESPN default points (G 2, A 1, PPP 0.5, SHP 0.5, SOG 0.1, HIT 0.1, BLK 0.5). Use your league's scoring

Michael Bunting

3games (2 left)

1.9proj. ESPN default pts

Sandis Vilmanis

3games

3.0proj. ESPN default pts

  • Wed, Oct 21 @ OTT1.0 pts
    Opp allows 14th-most FP to LWLikely vs Linus Ullmark (.891)
  • Thu, Oct 22 @ PITB2B1.0 pts
    Opp allows 12th-most FP to LWSchedule edge −11.9 win%Likely vs Arturs Silovs (.888)
  • Sun, Oct 25 @ CHI1.0 pts
    Opp allows 9th-most FP to LWLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)

FAQ

Should I start Michael Bunting or Sandis Vilmanis in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Michael Bunting projects to 0.88 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sandis Vilmanis's 0.83. Bunting had 33 points in 74 games; Vilmanis had 5 in 19 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, Michael Bunting or Sandis Vilmanis?
On 2025-26 numbers, Sandis Vilmanis leads in 2 of 2 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 →