Who to start · 2025-26
Alexander Wennberg vs Evgeni Malkin
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Evgeni Malkin projects to 2.12 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Alexander Wennberg's 1.69.
Wennberg had 55 points in 80 games; Malkin had 61 in 56 games.
This week Wennberg has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Malkin has 1 left. We project Wennberg for 1.6 ESPN points to Malkin's 1.6.
Evgeni Malkin has the better number in 20 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Wennberg's biggest edges: Blocked shots 93, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.37, Top skating speed 23.1.
Malkin's biggest edges: Plus/minus +13, Offensive-zone start % 76.9%, Forecheck xG /60 0.37.
Head to head on the dot, Malkin leads Wennberg 21–18.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Alexander Wennberg
1.69
fantasy points per game
Evgeni Malkin
2.12
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Evgeni Malkin has the edge.
| Points per game from | Wennberg | Malkin |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.42 | 0.76 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.43 | 0.70 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.09 | 0.22 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.13 | 0.26 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.58 | 0.14 |
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: Wennberg vs Malkin
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.
Wennberg 2G 5A, 23 SOG · Malkin 3G 10A, 38 SOG
Wennberg's offensive zone 2–3 · neutral 8–10 · Wennberg's defensive zone 8–8 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
Wennberg blocked 1 of Malkin's shots; Malkin blocked 0 of Wennberg's.
On the ice against each other (Wennberg's side)
1:19 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Wennberg's side
- Shot attempts
- 3–0
- 100.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.0
- 100.0%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Wennberg | Malkin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-10-18 | SJS 0–3 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2024-11-16 | SJS 3–4 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-04-01 | NYR 2–5 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-03-16 | NYR 7–4 PIT | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-02-29 | SEA 2–0 PIT | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-01-15 | SEA 0–3 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-11-05 | SEA 3–2 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2022-10-29 | SEA 3–1 PIT | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-01-27 | SEA 2–1 PIT | 0G 1A 0S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2019-11-29 | CBJ 5–2 PIT | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2019-10-05 | CBJ 2–7 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2019-03-09 | CBJ 4–1 PIT | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 3S |
Latest 12 of 17 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.
Alexander Wennberg
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs FLAOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Akira Schmid (.892)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs LAK1.6 ptsOpp allows the most FP to CSchedule edge +3.3 win%Likely vs Anton Forsberg (.910)
Evgeni Malkin
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 7th-most FP to CLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL1.6 ptsOpp allows 14th-most FP to Cvs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Alexander Wennberg or Evgeni Malkin in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Evgeni Malkin projects to 2.12 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Alexander Wennberg's 1.69. Wennberg had 55 points in 80 games; Malkin had 61 in 56 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, Alexander Wennberg or Evgeni Malkin?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Evgeni Malkin leads in 20 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Wennberg and Malkin done against each other?
- In 17 games against each other in our data, Wennberg's team went 7–10. Wennberg had 7 points (2 goals) and Malkin had 13 (3 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Wennberg or Malkin?
- Against each other, Wennberg has won 18 and Malkin 21 of their 39 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 →