Who to start · 2025-26
Mika Zibanejad vs William Eklund
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mika Zibanejad projects to 2.27 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to William Eklund's 1.62.
Zibanejad had 78 points in 81 games; Eklund had 53 in 78 games.
This week Zibanejad has 1 game left; Eklund has 1 left. We project Zibanejad for 2.3 ESPN points to Eklund's 1.6.
Mika Zibanejad has the better number in 26 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Zibanejad's biggest edges: Goals above expected +5.8, Luck Meter +47, Faceoffs won 574.
Eklund's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 32, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.37, Offensive-zone time 45.9%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mika Zibanejad
2.31
fantasy points per game
William Eklund
1.62
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mika Zibanejad has the edge.
| Points per game from | Zibanejad | Eklund |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.84 | 0.38 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.54 | 0.49 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.10 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.27 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.13 | 0.09 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.31 | 0.33 |
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 Eklund
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2023-24 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Zibanejad 3G 2A, 14 SOG · Eklund 0G 4A, 9 SOG
Zibanejad's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 1–0 · Zibanejad's defensive zone 1–0 (2023-24 to 2024-25)
Zibanejad blocked 1 of Eklund's shots; Eklund blocked 1 of Zibanejad's.
On the ice against each other (Zibanejad's side)
7:05 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Zibanejad's side
- Shot attempts
- 11–4
- 73.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.1
- 85.7%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Zibanejad | Eklund |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-23 | NYR 1–3 SJS | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-10-23 | NYR 5–6 SJS | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 3A 4S |
| 2025-03-29 | NYR 6–1 SJS | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-11-14 | NYR 3–2 SJS | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-01-23 | NYR 2–3 SJS | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-12-03 | NYR 6–5 SJS | 1G 1A 1S | 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)
2.3proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Tue, Sep 29 @ BOS
- Thu, Oct 1 vs TBL
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2B
- Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA2.3 pts
William Eklund
1games
1.6proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TOR1.6 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mika Zibanejad or William Eklund 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 William Eklund's 1.62. Zibanejad had 78 points in 81 games; Eklund had 53 in 78 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 William Eklund?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mika Zibanejad leads in 26 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Zibanejad and Eklund done against each other?
- In 6 games against each other in our data, Zibanejad's team went 3–3. Zibanejad had 5 points (3 goals) and Eklund had 4 (0 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Zibanejad or Eklund?
- Against each other, Zibanejad has won 2 and Eklund 0 of their 2 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 →