Who to start · 2025-26
Mika Zibanejad vs Sebastian Aho
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mika Zibanejad projects to 2.27 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sebastian Aho's 2.01.
Zibanejad had 78 points in 81 games; Aho had 80 in 79 games.
This week Zibanejad has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Aho has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Aho for 2.2 ESPN points to Zibanejad's 1.4.
Mika Zibanejad has the better number in 19 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Zibanejad's biggest edges: Goals above expected +5.8, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.001, Luck Meter +47.
Aho's biggest edges: Plus/minus +11, Fenwick 60.3%, Penalty minutes 46.
Head to head on the dot, Zibanejad leads Aho 106–84.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 6 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mika Zibanejad
2.27
fantasy points per game
Sebastian Aho
2.01
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mika Zibanejad has the edge.
| Points per game from | Zibanejad | Aho |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.81 | 0.72 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.51 | 0.59 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.21 | 0.17 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.04 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.14 | 0.07 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.34 | 0.16 |
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 Aho
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.
Zibanejad 16G 26A, 93 SOG · Aho 14G 26A, 99 SOG
Zibanejad's offensive zone 26–19 · neutral 34–18 · Zibanejad's defensive zone 46–47 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
Zibanejad blocked 2 of Aho's shots; Aho blocked 0 of Zibanejad's.
On the ice against each other (Zibanejad's side)
16:18 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Zibanejad's side
- Shot attempts
- 12–18
- 40.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.4
- 52.4%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Zibanejad | Aho |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-05 | NYR 0–2 CAR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-12-29 | NYR 2–3 CAR | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2025-11-26 | NYR 4–2 CAR | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 2A 4S |
| 2025-11-04 | NYR 0–3 CAR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-04-12 | NYR 3–7 CAR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2025-01-28 | NYR 0–4 CAR | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2024-12-22 | NYR 1–3 CAR | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2024-11-27 | NYR 3–4 CAR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2024-05-16 · PO | NYR 5–3 CAR | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2024-05-13 · PO | NYR 1–4 CAR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-05-11 · PO | NYR 3–4 CAR | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2024-05-09 · PO | NYR 3–2 CAR | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 5S |
Latest 12 of 42 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.
Mika Zibanejad
4games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ BOSOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs TBLOpp allows 11th-most FP to CLikely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2BOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to CSchedule 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)
Sebastian Aho
3games (1 left)
2.2proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs FLAOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jacob Markstrom (.883)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs WSHOpp allows 9th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Logan Thompson (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ PHIB2B2.2 ptsOpp allows 7th-most FP to CSchedule edge −8.7 win%vs Joseph Woll (.899)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mika Zibanejad or Sebastian Aho 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 Sebastian Aho's 2.01. Zibanejad had 78 points in 81 games; Aho had 80 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 Sebastian Aho?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mika Zibanejad leads in 19 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 Aho done against each other?
- In 42 games against each other in our data, Zibanejad's team went 23–19. Zibanejad had 42 points (16 goals) and Aho had 40 (14 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Zibanejad or Aho?
- Against each other, Zibanejad has won 106 and Aho 84 of their 190 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 →