Who to start · 2025-26
Anthony Cirelli 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 Anthony Cirelli's 1.67.
Cirelli had 52 points in 71 games; McDavid had 138 in 82 games.
This week Cirelli has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; McDavid has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project McDavid for 2.3 ESPN points to Cirelli's 1.2.
Connor McDavid has the better number in 19 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Cirelli's biggest edges: On-ice PDO 1052, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.002, Blocked shots 47.
McDavid's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 2.12, Net penalties drawn /60 +1.05, Offensive-zone time 47.7%.
Head to head on the dot, McDavid leads Cirelli 15–12.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 6 A, 2 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Anthony Cirelli
1.67
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 | Cirelli | McDavid |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.61 | 1.15 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 1.32 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.35 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.35 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.37 | 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: Cirelli 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.
Cirelli 3G 3A, 25 SOG · McDavid 7G 6A, 48 SOG
Cirelli's offensive zone 3–2 · neutral 6–6 · Cirelli's defensive zone 3–7 (2018-19 to 2025-26)
Cirelli blocked 1 of McDavid's shots; McDavid blocked 0 of Cirelli's.
On the ice against each other (Cirelli's side)
12:22 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Cirelli's side
- Shot attempts
- 23–10
- 69.7%
- Expected goals
- 1.8–0.4
- 82.0%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cirelli | McDavid |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-21 | TBL 5–2 EDM | 2G 0A 5S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2025-11-20 | TBL 2–1 EDM | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-02-25 | TBL 4–1 EDM | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-12-14 | TBL 7–4 EDM | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 7S |
| 2023-01-19 | TBL 3–5 EDM | 0G 1A 3S | 1G 1A 6S |
| 2022-03-12 | TBL 1–4 EDM | 0G 0A 3S | 2G 0A 7S |
| 2022-02-23 | TBL 5–3 EDM | 0G 1A 1S | 2G 0A 5S |
| 2018-12-22 | TBL 6–3 EDM | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 3A 5S |
| 2018-11-06 | TBL 5–2 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2018-03-18 | TBL 3–1 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
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.
Anthony Cirelli
2games (1 left)
1.2proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 15th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH1.2 ptsOpp allows 9th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)
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 Anthony Cirelli 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 Anthony Cirelli's 1.67. Cirelli had 52 points in 71 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, Anthony Cirelli or Connor McDavid?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Connor McDavid leads in 19 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Cirelli and McDavid done against each other?
- In 10 games against each other in our data, Cirelli's team went 8–2. Cirelli had 6 points (3 goals) and McDavid had 13 (7 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Cirelli or McDavid?
- Against each other, Cirelli has won 12 and McDavid 15 of their 27 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 →