Who to start · 2025-26
Mikko Rantanen vs Tomas Hertl
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mikko Rantanen projects to 2.21 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Tomas Hertl's 1.88.
Rantanen had 77 points in 64 games; Hertl had 58 in 82 games.
This week Rantanen has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Hertl has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Hertl for 2.0 ESPN points to Rantanen's 1.6.
Tomas Hertl has the better number in 17 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Rantanen's biggest edges: On-ice PDO 1046, Luck Meter +45, Plus/minus 0.
Hertl's biggest edges: Corsi 56.2%, Fenwick 55.5%, Faceoffs won 720.
Head to head on the dot, Hertl leads Rantanen 13–11.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 9 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mikko Rantanen
2.21
fantasy points per game
Tomas Hertl
1.88
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mikko Rantanen has the edge.
| Points per game from | Rantanen | Hertl |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.64 | 0.63 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.81 | 0.37 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.25 | 0.17 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.21 | 0.27 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.14 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.30 |
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 Hertl
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.
Rantanen 19G 16A, 96 SOG · Hertl 12G 14A, 84 SOG
Rantanen's offensive zone 9–12 · neutral 2–1 · Rantanen's defensive zone 0–0 (2019-20 to 2024-25)
Rantanen blocked 0 of Hertl's shots; Hertl blocked 1 of Rantanen's.
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Rantanen | Hertl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-29 | DAL 5–4 VGK | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-11-27 | COL 2–1 VGK | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-10-09 | COL 4–8 VGK | 3G 0A 6S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-04-14 | COL 3–4 VGK | 1G 0A 6S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2023-12-31 | COL 3–1 SJS | 1G 0A 7S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2023-12-17 | COL 6–2 SJS | 1G 0A 4S | 2G 0A 5S |
| 2023-10-14 | COL 2–1 SJS | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2023-04-06 | COL 6–2 SJS | 3G 1A 6S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-04-04 | COL 4–3 SJS | 0G 2A 8S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-03-07 | COL 6–0 SJS | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-03-31 | COL 4–2 SJS | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2022-03-18 | COL 5–3 SJS | 0G 2A 0S | 0G 1A 2S |
Latest 12 of 31 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)
Tomas Hertl
3games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs CHIOpp allows 8th-most FP to CLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs ANAOpp allows 9th-most FP to CLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ VAN2.0 ptsOpp allows 6th-most FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mikko Rantanen or Tomas Hertl 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 Tomas Hertl's 1.88. Rantanen had 77 points in 64 games; Hertl had 58 in 82 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 Tomas Hertl?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Tomas Hertl leads in 17 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 Hertl done against each other?
- In 31 games against each other in our data, Rantanen's team went 21–10. Rantanen had 35 points (19 goals) and Hertl had 26 (12 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Rantanen or Hertl?
- Against each other, Rantanen has won 11 and Hertl 13 of their 24 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 →