Who to start · 2025-26
Barrett Hayton 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 Barrett Hayton's 1.01.
Hayton had 25 points in 67 games; McDavid had 138 in 82 games.
This week Hayton has 2 games left; McDavid has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project McDavid for 2.3 ESPN points to Hayton's 1.8.
Connor McDavid has the better number in 28 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Hayton's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 −0.007, Faceoff win % 52.6%, Draw Equity /100 +0.025.
McDavid's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +1.05, Ascension score 62, Goals 48.
Head to head on the dot, Hayton leads McDavid 25–12.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 6 A, 2 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Barrett Hayton
1.01
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 | Hayton | McDavid |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.28 | 1.15 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.21 | 1.32 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.04 | 0.35 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.19 | 0.35 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.23 | 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: Hayton vs McDavid
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2019-20 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Hayton 3G 1A, 14 SOG · McDavid 14G 13A, 53 SOG
Hayton's offensive zone 3–1 · neutral 16–3 · Hayton's defensive zone 6–8 (2021-22 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Hayton's side)
9:25 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Hayton's side
- Shot attempts
- 7–5
- 58.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.3
- 65.2%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Hayton | McDavid |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-24 | UTA 2–5 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 2G 0A 4S |
| 2025-10-28 | UTA 3–6 EDM | 1G 0A 2S | 2G 0A 3S |
| 2025-03-18 | UTA 1–7 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 2A 4S |
| 2024-12-31 | UTA 1–4 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2024-11-29 | UTA 3–4 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 6S |
| 2024-02-19 | ARI 3–6 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2023-03-27 | ARI 4–5 EDM | 2G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2023-03-22 | ARI 3–4 EDM | 0G 1A 0S | 2G 0A 7S |
| 2022-12-07 | ARI 2–8 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 2G 2A 5S |
| 2022-03-28 | ARI 1–6 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2021-11-24 | ARI 3–5 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 2G 2A 6S |
| 2019-11-24 | ARI 3–4 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
Latest 12 of 13 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.
Barrett Hayton
3games (2 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs CHIOpp allows 8th-most FP to CLikely vs Arvid Soderblom (.880)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ CBJ1.0 ptsOpp allows 16th-most FP to CSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ NYRB2B0.8 ptsOpp allows 15th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
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 Barrett Hayton 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 Barrett Hayton's 1.01. Hayton had 25 points in 67 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, Barrett Hayton or Connor McDavid?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Connor McDavid leads in 28 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Hayton and McDavid done against each other?
- In 13 games against each other in our data, Hayton's team went 1–12. Hayton had 4 points (3 goals) and McDavid had 27 (14 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Hayton or McDavid?
- Against each other, Hayton has won 25 and McDavid 12 of their 37 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 →