Who to start · 2025-26
Sam Malinski vs William Eklund
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, William Eklund projects to 1.62 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Malinski's 1.44.
Malinski had 40 points in 82 games; Eklund had 53 in 78 games.
This week Malinski has 1 game left; Eklund has 1 left. We project Eklund for 1.6 ESPN points to Malinski's 1.4.
They split the 33 stats both are ranked on 16–16.
Malinski's biggest edges: Plus/minus +43, Forecheck xG /60 0.44, On-ice PDO 1035.
Eklund's biggest edges: Ice-time share 30.5%, Ice time per game 18:32, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.37.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Sam Malinski
1.43
fantasy points per game
William Eklund
1.62
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, William Eklund has the edge.
| Points per game from | Malinski | Eklund |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.20 | 0.38 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.39 | 0.49 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.10 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.20 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.06 | 0.09 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.58 | 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: Malinski 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.
Malinski 1G 0A, 13 SOG · Eklund 2G 1A, 9 SOG
On the ice against each other (Malinski's side)
13:49 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Malinski's side
- Shot attempts
- 24–7
- 77.4%
- Expected goals
- 1.1–0.6
- 65.1%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Malinski | Eklund |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-04 | COL 4–2 SJS | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-11-26 | COL 6–0 SJS | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-11-01 | COL 2–3 SJS | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-12-19 | COL 4–2 SJS | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2024-10-20 | COL 4–1 SJS | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2023-12-17 | COL 6–2 SJS | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 2S |
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.
Sam Malinski
2games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAK
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL1.4 ptsSchedule edge +9.3 win%
William Eklund
1games
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TOR1.6 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Sam Malinski or William Eklund in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, William Eklund projects to 1.62 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Malinski's 1.44. Malinski had 40 points in 82 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, Sam Malinski or William Eklund?
- On 2025-26 numbers they split 16–16 across 33 stats where both qualify.
- How have Malinski and Eklund done against each other?
- In 6 games against each other in our data, Malinski's team went 5–1. Malinski had 1 points (1 goals) and Eklund had 3 (2 goals).
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 →