Who to start · 2025-26
Vladimir Tarasenko vs William Eklund
In 2025-26, William Eklund scored 1.62 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Vladimir Tarasenko's 1.52.
Tarasenko had 47 points in 75 games; Eklund had 53 in 78 games.
This week Tarasenko has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Eklund has 1 left. We project Tarasenko for 1.2 ESPN points to Eklund's 1.2.
William Eklund has the better number in 21 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Tarasenko's biggest edges: Goals above expected +4.0, Luck Meter +35, On-ice PDO 1011.
Eklund's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 32, Corsi 50.1%, Offensive-zone time 45.9%.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Vladimir Tarasenko
1.52
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 | Tarasenko | Eklund |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.61 | 0.38 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.32 | 0.49 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.09 | 0.10 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.20 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.09 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 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: Tarasenko 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.
Tarasenko 4G 2A, 10 SOG · Eklund 5G 4A, 17 SOG
On the ice against each other (Tarasenko's side)
7:11 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Tarasenko's side
- Shot attempts
- 7–8
- 46.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.3
- 40.0%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Tarasenko | Eklund |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-31 | MIN 3–4 SJS | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-11-11 | MIN 1–2 SJS | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-10-26 | MIN 5–6 SJS | 0G 0A 0S | 2G 1A 4S |
| 2025-01-14 | DET 3–6 SJS | 2G 0A 4S | 1G 2A 4S |
| 2024-11-18 | DET 4–5 SJS | 0G 1A 1S | 2G 0A 3S |
| 2024-01-13 | OTT 5–4 SJS | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2021-11-04 | STL 5–3 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.
Vladimir Tarasenko
2games (1 left)
1.2proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NSHOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs BOS1.2 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge +12.8 win%Likely vs Michael DiPietro (1.000)
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 Vladimir Tarasenko or William Eklund in fantasy hockey?
- In 2025-26, William Eklund scored 1.62 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Vladimir Tarasenko's 1.52. Tarasenko had 47 points in 75 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, Vladimir Tarasenko or William Eklund?
- On 2025-26 numbers, William Eklund 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 Tarasenko and Eklund done against each other?
- In 7 games against each other in our data, Tarasenko's team went 2–5. Tarasenko had 6 points (4 goals) and Eklund had 9 (5 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 →