Who to start · 2025-26
Mikko Rantanen vs Quinton Byfield
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mikko Rantanen projects to 2.21 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Quinton Byfield's 1.57.
Rantanen had 77 points in 64 games; Byfield had 49 in 79 games.
This week Rantanen has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Byfield has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Rantanen for 1.6 ESPN points to Byfield's 1.4.
Quinton Byfield has the better number in 18 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Rantanen's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 63.2%, Luck Meter +45, On-ice PDO 1046.
Byfield's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.42, Corsi 53.1%, Fenwick 52.9%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mikko Rantanen
2.21
fantasy points per game
Quinton Byfield
1.57
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mikko Rantanen has the edge.
| Points per game from | Rantanen | Byfield |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.64 | 0.57 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.81 | 0.30 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.25 | 0.07 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.21 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 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: Rantanen vs Byfield
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2020-21 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Rantanen 8G 12A, 40 SOG · Byfield 4G 6A, 21 SOG
Rantanen's offensive zone 3–1 · neutral 0–0 · Rantanen's defensive zone 0–0 (2021-22 to 2024-25)
On the ice against each other (Rantanen's side)
6:40 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Rantanen's side
- Shot attempts
- 6–5
- 54.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.1
- 87.0%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Rantanen | Byfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-12 | DAL 3–1 LAK | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2025-10-23 | DAL 2–3 LAK | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2025-02-01 | CAR 2–4 LAK | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2024-11-13 | COL 4–2 LAK | 3G 1A 7S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-12-03 | COL 1–4 LAK | 0G 1A 3S | 2G 0A 5S |
| 2023-10-11 | COL 5–2 LAK | 2G 2A 5S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2023-04-08 | COL 4–3 LAK | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-03-09 | COL 2–5 LAK | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2022-12-29 | COL 4–5 LAK | 0G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-04-13 | COL 9–3 LAK | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-03-15 | COL 3–0 LAK | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-01-20 | COL 4–1 LAK | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
Latest 12 of 13 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.
Mikko Rantanen
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs STLOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Joel Hofer (.910)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NSHB2B1.6 ptsOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge −12.9 win%Likely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
Quinton Byfield
2games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ COLOpp allows 10th-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 Mikko Rantanen or Quinton Byfield in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mikko Rantanen projects to 2.21 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Quinton Byfield's 1.57. Rantanen had 77 points in 64 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, Mikko Rantanen or Quinton Byfield?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Quinton Byfield 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 Rantanen and Byfield done against each other?
- In 13 games against each other in our data, Rantanen's team went 8–5. Rantanen had 20 points (8 goals) and Byfield had 10 (4 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Rantanen or Byfield?
- Against each other, Rantanen has won 3 and Byfield 1 of their 4 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 →