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Who to start · 2025-26

Alexis Lafrenière vs Sam Malinski

Alexis LafrenièreAlexis LafrenièreRangers · Left wingvsSam MalinskiSam MalinskiAvalanche · Defence

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Sam Malinski projects to 1.44 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Alexis Lafrenière's 1.41.

Lafrenière had 57 points in 82 games; Malinski had 40 in 82 games.

This week Lafrenière has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Malinski has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Lafrenière for 1.2 ESPN points to Malinski's 1.1.

They split the 34 stats both are ranked on 16–16.

Lafrenière's biggest edges: Ice time per game 17:36, Ice-time share 29.0%, Power-play share 57.6%.

Malinski's biggest edges: Plus/minus +43, Faceoffs won 0, Forecheck xG /60 0.44.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Alexis Lafrenière

1.41

fantasy points per game

Sam Malinski

1.44

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Sam Malinski has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromLafrenièreMalinski
Goals (+2)0.490.18
Assists (+1)0.340.37
Power-play points (+0.5)0.080.01
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.000.00
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.190.20
Hits (+0.1)0.110.05
Blocks (+0.5)0.210.64

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: Lafrenière vs Malinski

Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2024-25 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.

LafrenièreMalinski
0Team record in 4 meetings4
2Points in those games2

Lafrenière 0G 2A, 10 SOG · Malinski 0G 2A, 2 SOG

2Hits on each other1
1Shots blocked by the other0

Lafrenière blocked 1 of Malinski's shots; Malinski blocked 0 of Lafrenière's.

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

10:57 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Lafrenière's side

Shot attempts
9–10
47.4%
Expected goals
0.5–1.5
26.4%
Goals
0–0

Games against each other

Games between Alexis Lafrenière and Sam Malinski
DateScoreLafrenièreMalinski
2025-12-06NYR 2–3 COL0G 1A 3S0G 1A 0S
2025-11-20NYR 3–6 COL0G 0A 1S0G 1A 1S
2025-01-26NYR 4–5 COL0G 1A 2S0G 0A 1S
2025-01-14NYR 2–3 COL0G 0A 4S0G 0A 0S

Every stat, side by side

Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.

LafrenièreMalinski

Fantasy box score

Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

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.

Alexis Lafrenière

4games (1 left)

1.2proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 @ BOS
    Opp allows 12th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
  • Thu, Oct 1 vs TBL
    Opp allows 6th-most FP to LWLikely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
  • Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2B
    Opp allows 13th-most FP to LWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs John Gibson (.901)
  • Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA1.2 pts
    Opp allows 3rd-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)

Sam Malinski

2games (1 left)

1.1proj. ESPN pts

  • Wed, Sep 30 vs LAK
    Opp allows 3rd-most FP to DLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs STL1.1 pts
    Opp allows 4th-fewest FP to DSchedule edge +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Alexis Lafrenière or Sam Malinski in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Sam Malinski projects to 1.44 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Alexis Lafrenière's 1.41. Lafrenière had 57 points in 82 games; Malinski had 40 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, Alexis Lafrenière or Sam Malinski?
On 2025-26 numbers they split 16–16 across 34 stats where both qualify.
How have Lafrenière and Malinski done against each other?
In 4 games against each other in our data, Lafrenière's team went 0–4. Lafrenière had 2 points (0 goals) and Malinski had 2 (0 goals).

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 →