Who to start · 2025-26
Ryan O'Reilly vs William Eklund
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Ryan O'Reilly projects to 1.90 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to William Eklund's 1.62.
O'Reilly had 74 points in 81 games; Eklund had 53 in 78 games.
This week O'Reilly has 1 game left; Eklund has 1 left. We project O'Reilly for 2.0 ESPN points to Eklund's 1.6.
Ryan O'Reilly has the better number in 23 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
O'Reilly's biggest edges: Plus/minus +8, Forecheck xG /60 0.33, Goals above expected +1.2.
Eklund's biggest edges: Hits 72, Hardest shot 89.3, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.37.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Ryan O'Reilly
1.98
fantasy points per game
William Eklund
1.62
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Ryan O'Reilly has the edge.
| Points per game from | O'Reilly | Eklund |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.62 | 0.38 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.60 | 0.49 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.12 | 0.10 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.19 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.02 | 0.09 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.41 | 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: O'Reilly vs Eklund
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2023-24 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
O'Reilly 1G 3A, 11 SOG · Eklund 0G 5A, 11 SOG
O'Reilly's offensive zone 0–1 · neutral 0–0 · O'Reilly's defensive zone 1–1 (2023-24)
O'Reilly blocked 1 of Eklund's shots; Eklund blocked 0 of O'Reilly's.
On the ice against each other (O'Reilly's side)
9:32 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from O'Reilly's side
- Shot attempts
- 3–9
- 25.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.5
- 32.9%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | O'Reilly | Eklund |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-13 | NSH 2–3 SJS | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2026-04-04 | NSH 6–3 SJS | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2026-03-24 | NSH 6–3 SJS | 0G 2A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-03-11 | NSH 3–2 SJS | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-01-23 | NSH 6–5 SJS | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-01-21 | NSH 7–5 SJS | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2024-03-19 | NSH 8–2 SJS | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-02-24 | NSH 4–2 SJS | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-10-21 | NSH 5–1 SJS | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
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.
Ryan O'Reilly
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs MIN
- Sat, Oct 3 vs DAL2.0 ptsSchedule edge +9.3 win%
William Eklund
1games
1.6proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TOR1.6 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Ryan O'Reilly or William Eklund in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Ryan O'Reilly projects to 1.90 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to William Eklund's 1.62. O'Reilly had 74 points in 81 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, Ryan O'Reilly or William Eklund?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Ryan O'Reilly leads in 23 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have O'Reilly and Eklund done against each other?
- In 9 games against each other in our data, O'Reilly's team went 8–1. O'Reilly had 4 points (1 goals) and Eklund had 5 (0 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, O'Reilly or Eklund?
- Against each other, O'Reilly has won 1 and Eklund 2 of their 3 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 →