Who to start · 2025-26
Barrett Hayton vs Nathan MacKinnon
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nathan MacKinnon projects to 3.32 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Barrett Hayton's 1.01.
Hayton had 25 points in 67 games; MacKinnon had 127 in 80 games.
This week Hayton has 2 games left; MacKinnon has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project MacKinnon for 2.2 ESPN points to Hayton's 1.8.
Nathan MacKinnon has the better number in 30 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Hayton's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 −0.007, Shorthanded points 1, Penalty minutes 54.
MacKinnon's biggest edges: Luck Meter +52, Goals above expected +4.3, On-ice PDO 1054.
Head to head on the dot, Hayton leads MacKinnon 26–23.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 8 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Barrett Hayton
1.01
fantasy points per game
Nathan MacKinnon
3.32
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nathan MacKinnon has the edge.
| Points per game from | Hayton | MacKinnon |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.28 | 1.49 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.21 | 0.87 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.04 | 0.21 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.19 | 0.46 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.09 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.23 | 0.21 |
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 MacKinnon
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 0G 2A, 19 SOG · MacKinnon 4G 10A, 56 SOG
Hayton's offensive zone 4–9 · neutral 8–5 · Hayton's defensive zone 14–9 (2021-22 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Hayton's side)
10:02 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Hayton's side
- Shot attempts
- 11–13
- 45.8%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.2
- 70.3%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Hayton | MacKinnon |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-23 | UTA 0–1 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-10-21 | UTA 4–3 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 8S |
| 2024-12-27 | UTA 1–4 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 3A 4S |
| 2024-12-12 | UTA 4–1 COL | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2024-10-24 | UTA 1–5 COL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2024-02-18 | ARI 3–4 COL | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 1A 9S |
| 2023-03-26 | ARI 3–4 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-03-24 | ARI 1–3 COL | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 2A 4S |
| 2023-03-11 | ARI 2–3 COL | 0G 1A 3S | 1G 1A 6S |
| 2022-03-03 | ARI 2–1 COL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 7S |
| 2019-11-02 | ARI 3–0 COL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2019-10-12 | ARI 2–3 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
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)
Nathan MacKinnon
2games (1 left)
2.2proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows the most FP to CLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL2.2 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Barrett Hayton or Nathan MacKinnon in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nathan MacKinnon projects to 3.32 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Barrett Hayton's 1.01. Hayton had 25 points in 67 games; MacKinnon had 127 in 80 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 Nathan MacKinnon?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nathan MacKinnon leads in 30 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 MacKinnon done against each other?
- In 12 games against each other in our data, Hayton's team went 4–8. Hayton had 2 points (0 goals) and MacKinnon had 14 (4 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Hayton or MacKinnon?
- Against each other, Hayton has won 26 and MacKinnon 23 of their 49 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 →