Who to start · 2025-26
Mika Zibanejad vs Zach Hyman
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mika Zibanejad projects to 2.27 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Zach Hyman's 1.99.
Zibanejad had 78 points in 81 games; Hyman had 52 in 58 games.
This week Zibanejad has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Hyman has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Hyman for 1.5 ESPN points to Zibanejad's 1.4.
Zach Hyman has the better number in 18 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Zibanejad's biggest edges: Hardest shot 96.4, Faceoffs won 574, Blocked shots 50.
Hyman's biggest edges: Plus/minus +13, Expected goals 55.6%, Sequence xG 55.6%.
Head to head on the dot, Zibanejad leads Hyman 6–6.
- • 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
Zach Hyman
1.99
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mika Zibanejad has the edge.
| Points per game from | Zibanejad | Hyman |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.81 | 1.00 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.51 | 0.34 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.21 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.28 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.14 | 0.10 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.34 | 0.15 |
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 Hyman
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2023-24: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Zibanejad 8G 4A, 39 SOG · Hyman 6G 3A, 42 SOG
Zibanejad's offensive zone 2–4 · neutral 1–0 · Zibanejad's defensive zone 3–2 (2018-19 to 2021-22)
Zibanejad blocked 1 of Hyman's shots; Hyman blocked 2 of Zibanejad's.
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Zibanejad | Hyman |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-12-22 | NYR 3–4 EDM | 1G 1A 4S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2023-10-26 | NYR 3–0 EDM | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-02-17 | NYR 5–4 EDM | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2022-11-26 | NYR 3–4 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2022-01-03 | NYR 4–1 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2021-11-05 | NYR 5–6 EDM | 2G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 6S |
| 2020-02-05 | NYR 5–3 TOR | 1G 1A 6S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2019-12-28 | NYR 5–4 TOR | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2019-12-20 | NYR 3–6 TOR | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2019-03-23 | NYR 2–1 TOR | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2019-02-10 | NYR 4–1 TOR | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2018-02-01 | NYR 0–4 TOR | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 4S |
Latest 12 of 14 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)
Zach Hyman
3games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VANOpp allows 5th-most FP to LWLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 5th-most FP to LWLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.5 ptsOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mika Zibanejad or Zach Hyman 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 Zach Hyman's 1.99. Zibanejad had 78 points in 81 games; Hyman had 52 in 58 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 Zach Hyman?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Zach Hyman leads in 18 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 Hyman done against each other?
- In 14 games against each other in our data, Zibanejad's team went 7–7. Zibanejad had 12 points (8 goals) and Hyman had 9 (6 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Zibanejad or Hyman?
- Against each other, Zibanejad has won 6 and Hyman 6 of their 12 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 →