Who to start · 2025-26
Alex DeBrincat 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 Alex DeBrincat's 2.20.
DeBrincat had 85 points in 82 games; McDavid had 138 in 82 games.
This week DeBrincat has 1 game left; McDavid has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project McDavid for 2.3 ESPN points to DeBrincat's 1.9.
Connor McDavid has the better number in 29 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
DeBrincat's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.060, Hardest shot 88.1, On-ice PDO 1010.
McDavid's biggest edges: Ascension score 62, High-danger chances 57.5%, Offensive-zone start % 65.6%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 6 A, 2 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Alex DeBrincat
2.20
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 | DeBrincat | McDavid |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.94 | 1.15 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 1.32 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.13 | 0.35 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.33 | 0.35 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 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: DeBrincat vs McDavid
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
DeBrincat 9G 6A, 58 SOG · McDavid 5G 25A, 65 SOG
DeBrincat's offensive zone 0–1 · neutral 0–0 · DeBrincat's defensive zone 0–0 (2021-22)
DeBrincat blocked 0 of McDavid's shots; McDavid blocked 1 of DeBrincat's.
On the ice against each other (DeBrincat's side)
9:39 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from DeBrincat's side
- Shot attempts
- 9–12
- 42.9%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.8
- 30.2%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | DeBrincat | McDavid |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-11 | DET 1–4 EDM | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 4A 4S |
| 2025-10-19 | DET 4–2 EDM | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-01-30 | DET 3–2 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2024-10-27 | DET 2–3 EDM | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 4S |
| 2024-02-13 | DET 4–8 EDM | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 6A 2S |
| 2024-01-11 | DET 2–3 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 7S |
| 2023-03-14 | OTT 3–6 EDM | 0G 1A 4S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2023-02-11 | OTT 3–6 EDM | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 2A 4S |
| 2022-03-03 | CHI 4–3 EDM | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2022-02-09 | CHI 4–1 EDM | 1G 2A 4S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2021-11-20 | CHI 2–5 EDM | 2G 0A 4S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2020-03-05 | CHI 4–3 EDM | 2G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 3S |
Latest 12 of 19 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.
Alex DeBrincat
2games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs NYROpp allows 13th-most FP to RWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Dylan Garand (.948)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs WPG1.9 ptsLikely vs Stuart Skinner (.888)
Connor McDavid
3games (1 left)
2.3proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VANOpp allows 4th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 4th-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 Alex DeBrincat 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 Alex DeBrincat's 2.20. DeBrincat had 85 points in 82 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.
- Who is better, Alex DeBrincat or Connor McDavid?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Connor McDavid leads in 29 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have DeBrincat and McDavid done against each other?
- In 19 games against each other in our data, DeBrincat's team went 9–10. DeBrincat had 15 points (9 goals) and McDavid had 30 (5 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, DeBrincat or McDavid?
- Against each other, DeBrincat has won 0 and McDavid 1 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 →