Who to start · 2025-26
Mika Zibanejad vs Quinton Byfield
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mika Zibanejad projects to 2.27 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Quinton Byfield's 1.57.
Zibanejad had 78 points in 81 games; Byfield had 49 in 79 games.
This week Zibanejad has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Byfield has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Zibanejad for 1.4 ESPN points to Byfield's 1.4.
Mika Zibanejad has the better number in 24 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Zibanejad's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 58.9%, Faceoff win % 52.5%, Draw Equity /100 +0.016.
Byfield's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 46, Ascension score 56, Transition attempts /60 1.78.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 6 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mika Zibanejad
2.27
fantasy points per game
Quinton Byfield
1.57
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mika Zibanejad has the edge.
| Points per game from | Zibanejad | Byfield |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.81 | 0.57 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.51 | 0.30 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.21 | 0.07 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.14 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.34 | 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: Zibanejad 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.
Zibanejad 2G 4A, 12 SOG · Byfield 2G 3A, 13 SOG
Zibanejad's offensive zone 0–2 · neutral 1–1 · Zibanejad's defensive zone 5–0 (2023-24 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Zibanejad's side)
11:02 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Zibanejad's side
- Shot attempts
- 8–9
- 47.1%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.3
- 61.8%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Zibanejad | Byfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-16 | NYR 1–4 LAK | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2026-01-20 | NYR 3–4 LAK | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-03-25 | NYR 1–3 LAK | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-12-14 | NYR 1–5 LAK | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2024-01-20 | NYR 1–2 LAK | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2023-12-10 | NYR 4–1 LAK | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-02-26 | NYR 5–2 LAK | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-01-24 | NYR 3–2 LAK | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
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.
Mika Zibanejad
4games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ BOSOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs TBLOpp allows 8th-most FP to CLikely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2BSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs John Gibson (.901)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA1.4 ptsOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
Quinton Byfield
2games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ COLOpp allows 8th-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 Mika Zibanejad or Quinton Byfield in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mika Zibanejad projects to 2.27 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Quinton Byfield's 1.57. Zibanejad had 78 points in 81 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, Mika Zibanejad or Quinton Byfield?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mika Zibanejad leads in 24 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Zibanejad and Byfield done against each other?
- In 8 games against each other in our data, Zibanejad's team went 3–5. Zibanejad had 6 points (2 goals) and Byfield had 5 (2 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Zibanejad or Byfield?
- Against each other, Zibanejad has won 6 and Byfield 3 of their 9 head-to-head draws.
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 →