Who to start · 2025-26
Brandon Hagel 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 Brandon Hagel's 2.15.
Hagel had 74 points in 71 games; MacKinnon had 127 in 80 games.
This week Hagel has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; MacKinnon has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project MacKinnon for 2.2 ESPN points to Hagel's 1.8.
Nathan MacKinnon has the better number in 21 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Hagel's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 −0.025, Ascension score 58, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.36.
MacKinnon's biggest edges: Goals above expected +4.3, Faceoffs won 681, Offensive-zone time 46.6%.
Head to head on the dot, MacKinnon leads Hagel 9–8.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 8 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brandon Hagel
2.15
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 | Hagel | MacKinnon |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.95 | 1.49 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.87 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.07 | 0.21 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.30 | 0.46 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.06 | 0.09 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.25 | 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: Hagel vs MacKinnon
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 3G 12A, 36 SOG · MacKinnon 3G 14A, 68 SOG
Hagel's offensive zone 1–2 · neutral 6–5 · Hagel's defensive zone 1–2 (2021-22 to 2024-25)
Hagel blocked 1 of MacKinnon's shots; MacKinnon blocked 3 of Hagel's.
On the ice against each other (Hagel's side)
8:44 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Hagel's side
- Shot attempts
- 9–8
- 52.9%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.4
- 55.9%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Hagel | MacKinnon |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-06 | TBL 4–2 COL | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2025-11-04 | TBL 2–3 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 6S |
| 2024-11-25 | TBL 8–2 COL | 0G 5A 5S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-10-30 | TBL 5–2 COL | 0G 2A 3S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2024-02-15 | TBL 6–3 COL | 0G 2A 5S | 0G 2A 5S |
| 2023-11-27 | TBL 1–4 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2023-02-14 | TBL 4–3 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 7S |
| 2023-02-09 | TBL 5–0 COL | 2G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-06-26 · PO | TBL 1–2 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 7S |
| 2022-06-24 · PO | TBL 3–2 COL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 6S |
| 2022-06-22 · PO | TBL 2–3 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 8S |
| 2022-06-20 · PO | TBL 6–2 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 6S |
Latest 12 of 16 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)
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 +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Brandon Hagel 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 Brandon Hagel's 2.15. Hagel had 74 points in 71 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, Brandon Hagel or Nathan MacKinnon?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nathan MacKinnon leads in 21 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 MacKinnon done against each other?
- In 16 games against each other in our data, Hagel's team went 8–8. Hagel had 15 points (3 goals) and MacKinnon had 17 (3 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Hagel or MacKinnon?
- Against each other, Hagel has won 8 and MacKinnon 9 of their 17 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 →