Who to start · 2025-26
Brandon Hagel vs Jake McCabe
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brandon Hagel projects to 2.15 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Jake McCabe's 1.75.
Hagel had 74 points in 71 games; McCabe had 25 in 80 games.
This week Hagel has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; McCabe has 1 left. We project Hagel for 1.8 ESPN points to McCabe's 1.7.
Brandon Hagel has the better number in 27 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Hagel's biggest edges: Corsi 58.5%, Fenwick 57.9%, Scoring chances 58.3%.
McCabe's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 0, Hits 104, Goals above expected +0.7.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brandon Hagel
2.15
fantasy points per game
Jake McCabe
1.75
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Brandon Hagel has the edge.
| Points per game from | Hagel | McCabe |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.95 | 0.11 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.22 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.07 | 0.00 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.30 | 0.10 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.06 | 0.13 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.25 | 1.19 |
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: Hagel vs McCabe
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Hagel 4G 11A, 45 SOG · McCabe 0G 0A, 17 SOG
Hagel blocked 0 of McCabe's shots; McCabe blocked 3 of Hagel's.
Goals each scored with the other picking up an assist (as teammates).
On the ice against each other (Hagel's side)
21:08 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Hagel's side
- Shot attempts
- 29–14
- 67.4%
- Expected goals
- 1.5–0.6
- 69.7%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Hagel | McCabe |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-07 | TBL 5–2 TOR | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2026-02-25 | TBL 4–2 TOR | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-12-08 | TBL 0–2 TOR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-01-20 | TBL 3–5 TOR | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-11-30 | TBL 3–5 TOR | 0G 2A 6S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-10-21 | TBL 2–5 TOR | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-04-03 | TBL 4–1 TOR | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-10-21 | TBL 3–4 TOR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-04-29 · PO | TBL 1–2 TOR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-04-27 · PO | TBL 4–2 TOR | 0G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-04-24 · PO | TBL 4–5 TOR | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-04-22 · PO | TBL 3–4 TOR | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
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.
Brandon Hagel
2games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 7th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH1.8 ptsOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)
Jake McCabe
3games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs MTLOpp allows 7th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
- Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2BOpp allows 16th-most FP to DSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT1.7 ptsvs Linus Ullmark (.891)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Brandon Hagel or Jake McCabe in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brandon Hagel projects to 2.15 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Jake McCabe's 1.75. Hagel had 74 points in 71 games; McCabe had 25 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, Brandon Hagel or Jake McCabe?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Brandon Hagel leads in 27 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Hagel and McCabe done against each other?
- In 17 games against each other in our data, Hagel's team went 7–10. Hagel had 15 points (4 goals) and McCabe had 0 (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 →