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Who to start · 2025-26

Alex DeBrincat vs Sam Bennett

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Alex DeBrincat projects to 2.20 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Bennett's 1.74.

DeBrincat had 85 points in 82 games; Bennett had 58 in 76 games.

This week DeBrincat has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Bennett has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project DeBrincat for 2.3 ESPN points to Bennett's 1.9.

Alex DeBrincat has the better number in 21 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

DeBrincat's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.20, Plus/minus +8, Transition attempts /60 1.78.

Bennett's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 82, Hits 115, Faceoffs won 517.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Alex DeBrincat

2.20

fantasy points per game

Sam Bennett

1.74

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Alex DeBrincat has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromDeBrincatBennett
Goals (+2)0.940.60
Assists (+1)0.500.43
Power-play points (+0.5)0.130.09
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.000.00
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.330.25
Hits (+0.1)0.070.19
Blocks (+0.5)0.220.19

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 Bennett

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.

DeBrincatBennett
5Team record in 21 meetings16
16Points in those games9

DeBrincat 7G 9A, 61 SOG · Bennett 4G 5A, 58 SOG

2Faceoffs against each other3

DeBrincat's offensive zone 0–1 · neutral 2–2 · DeBrincat's defensive zone 0–0 (2020-21 to 2021-22)

0Hits on each other2
1Shots blocked by the other1

DeBrincat blocked 1 of Bennett's shots; Bennett blocked 1 of DeBrincat's.

On the ice against each other (DeBrincat's side)

12:26 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from DeBrincat's side

Shot attempts
16–6
72.7%
Expected goals
0.7–0.4
61.0%
Goals
0–1

Games against each other

Games between Alex DeBrincat and Sam Bennett
DateScoreDeBrincatBennett
2026-03-10DET 3–4 FLA0G 1A 3S0G 1A 4S
2026-03-06DET 1–3 FLA1G 0A 3S0G 0A 1S
2025-10-15DET 4–1 FLA0G 2A 3S0G 0A 2S
2025-01-16DET 5–2 FLA0G 1A 2S0G 0A 7S
2024-03-30DET 2–3 FLA0G 0A 6S0G 0A 3S
2024-03-02DET 0–4 FLA0G 0A 1S0G 0A 4S
2024-01-17DET 3–2 FLA0G 0A 0S0G 1A 3S
2022-10-29OTT 3–5 FLA0G 0A 4S0G 0A 7S
2022-03-31CHI 0–4 FLA0G 0A 4S0G 0A 3S
2022-02-20CHI 2–5 FLA0G 1A 1S0G 0A 1S
2021-05-01CHI 4–5 FLA1G 1A 3S0G 2A 4S
2021-04-29CHI 3–4 FLA1G 0A 5S1G 0A 8S

Latest 12 of 21 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.

DeBrincatBennett

Fantasy box score

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)

2.3proj. ESPN pts

  • Fri, Oct 2 vs NYR
    Opp allows 12th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Dylan Garand (.948)
  • Sun, Oct 4 vs WPG2.3 pts
    Opp allows 7th-most FP to RWLikely vs Stuart Skinner (.888)

Sam Bennett

3games (1 left)

1.9proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 @ CAR
    Opp allows 13th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
  • Thu, Oct 1 @ SJS
    Opp allows 12th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)
  • Sun, Oct 4 @ ANA1.9 pts
    Opp allows 9th-most FP to CLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)

FAQ

Should I start Alex DeBrincat or Sam Bennett in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Alex DeBrincat projects to 2.20 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Bennett's 1.74. DeBrincat had 85 points in 82 games; Bennett had 58 in 76 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 Sam Bennett?
On 2025-26 numbers, Alex DeBrincat leads in 21 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 Bennett done against each other?
In 21 games against each other in our data, DeBrincat's team went 5–16. DeBrincat had 16 points (7 goals) and Bennett had 9 (4 goals).
Who wins more faceoffs, DeBrincat or Bennett?
Against each other, DeBrincat has won 2 and Bennett 3 of their 5 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 →