Who to start · 2025-26
Mika Zibanejad 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 Mika Zibanejad's 2.27.
Zibanejad had 78 points in 81 games; Nylander had 79 in 65 games.
This week Zibanejad has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Nylander has 1 left. We project Nylander for 2.1 ESPN points to Zibanejad's 1.4.
Mika Zibanejad has the better number in 22 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Zibanejad's biggest edges: Hits 105, Blocked shots 50, High-danger chances 53.8%.
Nylander's biggest edges: Top skating speed 23.5, Transition attempts /60 1.67, Forecheck xG /60 0.33.
Head to head on the dot, Zibanejad leads Nylander 13–6.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 6 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mika Zibanejad
2.27
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 | Zibanejad | Nylander |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.81 | 1.05 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.51 | 0.67 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.21 | 0.14 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.14 | 0.02 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.34 | 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: Zibanejad 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.
Zibanejad 12G 12A, 68 SOG · Nylander 7G 17A, 65 SOG
Zibanejad's offensive zone 1–3 · neutral 4–2 · Zibanejad's defensive zone 8–1 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Zibanejad's side)
21:38 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Zibanejad's side
- Shot attempts
- 29–19
- 60.4%
- Expected goals
- 1.0–0.7
- 58.2%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Zibanejad | Nylander |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-25 | NYR 3–4 TOR | 2G 0A 10S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-03-05 | NYR 6–2 TOR | 1G 2A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-10-16 | NYR 1–2 TOR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2025-03-20 | NYR 3–4 TOR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2025-02-28 | NYR 2–3 TOR | 1G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2024-10-19 | NYR 4–1 TOR | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 7S |
| 2024-03-02 | NYR 3–4 TOR | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2023-12-19 | NYR 5–2 TOR | 2G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-12-12 | NYR 3–7 TOR | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2023-04-13 | NYR 2–3 TOR | 0G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 6S |
| 2023-01-25 | NYR 2–3 TOR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2022-12-15 | NYR 3–1 TOR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
Latest 12 of 24 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)
William Nylander
3games (1 left)
2.1proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs MTLOpp allows 12th-most FP to RWLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
- Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2BOpp allows 14th-most FP to RWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT2.1 ptsvs Linus Ullmark (.891)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mika Zibanejad 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 Mika Zibanejad's 2.27. Zibanejad had 78 points in 81 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, Mika Zibanejad or William Nylander?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mika Zibanejad leads in 22 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Zibanejad and Nylander done against each other?
- In 24 games against each other in our data, Zibanejad's team went 10–14. Zibanejad had 24 points (12 goals) and Nylander had 24 (7 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Zibanejad or Nylander?
- Against each other, Zibanejad has won 13 and Nylander 6 of their 19 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 →