Who to start · 2025-26
Brandon Hagel vs Sidney Crosby
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Sidney Crosby projects to 2.18 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Brandon Hagel's 2.15.
Hagel had 74 points in 71 games; Crosby had 74 in 68 games.
This week Hagel has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Crosby has 1 left. We project Crosby for 2.0 ESPN points to Hagel's 1.8.
Brandon Hagel has the better number in 22 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Hagel's biggest edges: Expected goals 59.8%, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.36, Sequence xG 59.6%.
Crosby's biggest edges: Goals above expected +6.6, Faceoffs won 773, Luck Meter +61.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brandon Hagel
2.15
fantasy points per game
Sidney Crosby
2.18
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Sidney Crosby has the edge.
| Points per game from | Hagel | Crosby |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.95 | 0.80 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.68 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.07 | 0.16 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.30 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.06 | 0.10 |
| 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 Crosby
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2022-23 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Hagel 4G 2A, 34 SOG · Crosby 4G 8A, 26 SOG
Hagel's offensive zone 0–2 · neutral 1–0 · Hagel's defensive zone 1–1 (2022-23 to 2023-24)
Hagel blocked 0 of Crosby's shots; Crosby blocked 1 of Hagel's.
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Hagel | Crosby |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-13 | TBL 2–1 PIT | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-12-04 | TBL 3–4 PIT | 2G 0A 7S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-03-25 | TBL 6–1 PIT | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-01-12 | TBL 5–2 PIT | 1G 1A 6S | 0G 1A 6S |
| 2024-11-19 | TBL 3–2 PIT | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-04-06 | TBL 4–5 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2023-12-06 | TBL 3–1 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2023-11-30 | TBL 2–4 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2023-03-02 | TBL 4–5 PIT | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-02-26 | TBL 3–7 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2022-10-15 | TBL 2–6 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 2A 2S |
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)
Sidney Crosby
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 7th-most FP to CLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL2.0 ptsOpp allows 14th-most FP to Cvs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Brandon Hagel or Sidney Crosby in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Sidney Crosby projects to 2.18 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Brandon Hagel's 2.15. Hagel had 74 points in 71 games; Crosby had 74 in 68 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 Sidney Crosby?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Brandon Hagel leads in 22 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 Crosby done against each other?
- In 11 games against each other in our data, Hagel's team went 5–6. Hagel had 6 points (4 goals) and Crosby had 12 (4 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Hagel or Crosby?
- Against each other, Hagel has won 2 and Crosby 3 of their 5 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 →