Who to start · 2025-26
Tomas Hertl vs William Eklund
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Tomas Hertl projects to 1.88 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to William Eklund's 1.62.
Hertl had 58 points in 82 games; Eklund had 53 in 78 games.
This week Hertl has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Eklund has 1 left. We project Hertl for 2.0 ESPN points to Eklund's 1.2.
Tomas Hertl has the better number in 21 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Hertl's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 720, Expected goals 55.2%, Sequence xG 54.7%.
Eklund's biggest edges: 20+ mph bursts 111, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.37, Luck Meter −29.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 9 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Tomas Hertl
1.82
fantasy points per game
William Eklund
1.62
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Tomas Hertl has the edge.
| Points per game from | Hertl | Eklund |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.59 | 0.38 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.41 | 0.49 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.16 | 0.10 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.14 | 0.09 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.27 | 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: Hertl vs Eklund
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Hertl 6G 6A, 18 SOG · Eklund 2G 3A, 15 SOG
Hertl's offensive zone 1–0 · neutral 0–0 · Hertl's defensive zone 0–0 (2025-26)
Hertl blocked 1 of Eklund's shots; Eklund blocked 0 of Hertl's.
Goals each scored with the other picking up an assist (as teammates).
On the ice against each other (Hertl's side)
12:31 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Hertl's side
- Shot attempts
- 16–11
- 59.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.9–0.9
- 50.6%
- Goals
- 2–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Hertl | Eklund |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-11 | VGK 7–2 SJS | 2G 3A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-12-23 | VGK 7–2 SJS | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2025-11-29 | VGK 4–3 SJS | 2G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2025-10-09 | VGK 4–3 SJS | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-01-07 | VGK 4–2 SJS | 1G 0A 4S | 1G 1A 5S |
| 2024-10-26 | VGK 7–3 SJS | 0G 2A 3S | 0G 1A 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.
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)
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 Tomas Hertl or William Eklund in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Tomas Hertl projects to 1.88 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to William Eklund's 1.62. Hertl had 58 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, Tomas Hertl or William Eklund?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Tomas Hertl 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 Hertl and Eklund done against each other?
- In 6 games against each other in our data, Hertl's team went 6–0. Hertl had 12 points (6 goals) and Eklund had 5 (2 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Hertl or Eklund?
- Against each other, Hertl has won 1 and Eklund 0 of their 1 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 →