Is Anthony Cirelli Better Than Mikael Granlund? NHL Stats Decide

Few NHL comparisons generate more debate than Anthony Cirelli vs Mikael Granlund. The numbers reveal a genuinely competitive matchup — Mikael Granlund takes 4 categories while Anthony Cirelli claims 2, making this one of the closer head to head comparisons at the C position. Every statistical category matters in a matchup this tight.

Anthony Cirelli's Plus/Minus of 163 compared to Mikael Granlund's -35 represents a 365.7% advantage — dramatically better than their counterpart in this critical category. It is the single most decisive number in this comparison and the clearest statistical argument for Anthony Cirelli's edge.

The most competitive category in this matchup is Penalty Minutes, where Anthony Cirelli posts 301 against Mikael Granlund's 295 — a gap of just 2%. Anthony Cirelli can point to this as evidence that the overall comparison is closer than the final 4-2 tally suggests. In any debate, Penalty Minutes is the statistical ammunition for the Anthony Cirelli side.

Hockey's greatest players accumulate points through both goal scoring and playmaking. The balance between goals and assists often reveals a player's style — pure scorer versus pass-first playmaker.

The verdict favors Mikael Granlund — 4 categories to 2 — but Anthony Cirelli makes this far from a one-sided debate. Anyone building the case for Anthony Cirelli has real statistical ammunition particularly in Penalty Minutes where the gap narrows to just 2%. The numbers have spoken, but the argument will continue.