Who to start · 2025-26
Mikko Rantanen vs William Eklund
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mikko Rantanen projects to 2.21 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to William Eklund's 1.62.
Rantanen had 77 points in 64 games; Eklund had 53 in 78 games.
This week Rantanen has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Eklund has 1 left. We project Rantanen for 1.6 ESPN points to Eklund's 1.2.
Mikko Rantanen has the better number in 21 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Rantanen's biggest edges: On-ice PDO 1046, Luck Meter +45, Plus/minus 0.
Eklund's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.37, Corsi 50.1%, Blocked shots 51.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mikko Rantanen
2.34
fantasy points per game
William Eklund
1.62
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mikko Rantanen has the edge.
| Points per game from | Rantanen | Eklund |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.69 | 0.38 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.86 | 0.49 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.27 | 0.10 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.22 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.09 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.23 | 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: Rantanen vs Eklund
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2022-23 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Rantanen 6G 6A, 25 SOG · Eklund 2G 2A, 16 SOG
Rantanen's offensive zone 0–2 · neutral 0–0 · Rantanen's defensive zone 0–0 (2023-24 to 2024-25)
On the ice against each other (Rantanen's side)
22:20 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Rantanen's side
- Shot attempts
- 12–26
- 31.6%
- Expected goals
- 0.8–0.8
- 51.2%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Rantanen | Eklund |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-10 | DAL 4–5 SJS | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-12-18 | DAL 5–3 SJS | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2025-12-05 | DAL 4–1 SJS | 1G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-12-19 | COL 4–2 SJS | 1G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2024-10-20 | COL 4–1 SJS | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2023-12-31 | COL 3–1 SJS | 1G 0A 7S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-12-17 | COL 6–2 SJS | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-10-14 | COL 2–1 SJS | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-03-07 | COL 6–0 SJS | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
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 −13.3 win%Likely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
William Eklund
1games
1.2proj. ESPN pts
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TOR1.2 ptsOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mikko Rantanen or William Eklund 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 William Eklund's 1.62. Rantanen had 77 points in 64 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, Mikko Rantanen or William Eklund?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mikko Rantanen leads in 21 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Rantanen and Eklund done against each other?
- In 9 games against each other in our data, Rantanen's team went 8–1. Rantanen had 12 points (6 goals) and Eklund had 4 (2 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Rantanen or Eklund?
- Against each other, Rantanen has won 0 and Eklund 2 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 →