Who to start · 2025-26
Aleksander Barkov vs Connor McDavid
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Connor McDavid projects to 3.45 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Aleksander Barkov's 0.65 (2 games so far).
Barkov had 0 points in 2 games; McDavid had 138 in 82 games.
This week Barkov has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; McDavid has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Barkov for 2.3 ESPN points to McDavid's 2.3.
Head to head on the dot, Barkov leads McDavid 65–38.
- • Aleksander Barkov has no 2025-26 NHL games, so his numbers are this season's only.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 6 A, 2 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Aleksander Barkov
0.65
fantasy points per game
Connor McDavid
3.45
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Connor McDavid has the edge.
| Points per game from | Barkov | McDavid |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.00 | 1.15 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.00 | 1.32 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.35 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.10 | 0.35 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.50 | 0.22 |
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: Barkov vs McDavid
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2024-25: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Barkov 7G 12A, 67 SOG · McDavid 8G 25A, 74 SOG
Barkov's offensive zone 20–4 · neutral 34–21 · Barkov's defensive zone 11–13 (2017-18 to 2024-25)
Barkov blocked 2 of McDavid's shots; McDavid blocked 3 of Barkov's.
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Barkov | McDavid |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-06-17 · PO | FLA 5–1 EDM | 0G 2A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-06-14 · PO | FLA 5–2 EDM | 0G 1A 0S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-06-12 · PO | FLA 4–5 EDM | 0G 2A 4S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2025-06-09 · PO | FLA 6–1 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-06-06 · PO | FLA 5–4 EDM | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 3A 7S |
| 2025-06-04 · PO | FLA 3–4 EDM | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 4S |
| 2025-02-27 | FLA 4–3 EDM | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-06-24 · PO | FLA 2–1 EDM | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-06-21 · PO | FLA 1–5 EDM | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-06-18 · PO | FLA 3–5 EDM | 0G 0A 2S | 2G 2A 2S |
| 2024-06-15 · PO | FLA 1–8 EDM | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 3A 2S |
| 2024-06-13 · PO | FLA 4–3 EDM | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 2A 5S |
Latest 12 of 23 meetings.
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.
Aleksander Barkov
3games (1 left)
2.3proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ CAROpp allows 13th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ SJSOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ ANA2.3 ptsOpp allows 9th-most FP to CLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
Connor McDavid
3games (1 left)
2.3proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VANOpp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA2.3 ptsOpp allows 6th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Aleksander Barkov or Connor McDavid in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Connor McDavid projects to 3.45 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Aleksander Barkov's 0.65 (2 games so far). Barkov had 0 points in 2 games; McDavid had 138 in 82 games. Check this week's games and your league's scoring in the fantasy panel above, since more games usually decide a weekly start.
- How have Barkov and McDavid done against each other?
- In 23 games against each other in our data, Barkov's team went 14–9. Barkov had 19 points (7 goals) and McDavid had 33 (8 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Barkov or McDavid?
- Against each other, Barkov has won 65 and McDavid 38 of their 103 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 →