Who to start · 2025-26
Brandt Clarke 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 Brandt Clarke's 1.97.
Clarke had 40 points in 82 games; McDavid had 138 in 82 games.
This week Clarke has 1 game left; McDavid has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project McDavid for 2.3 ESPN points to Clarke's 1.6.
Connor McDavid has the better number in 28 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Clarke's biggest edges: Blocked shots 185, On-ice PDO 1014, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.059.
McDavid's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.36, 20+ mph bursts 681, Net penalties drawn /60 +1.05.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 6 A, 2 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brandt Clarke
1.97
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 | Clarke | McDavid |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.18 | 1.15 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.37 | 1.32 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.07 | 0.35 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.19 | 0.35 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.03 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 1.12 | 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: Clarke vs McDavid
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2024-25 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Clarke 2G 3A, 12 SOG · McDavid 5G 11A, 37 SOG
Clarke blocked 2 of McDavid's shots; McDavid blocked 0 of Clarke's.
On the ice against each other (Clarke's side)
10:59 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Clarke's side
- Shot attempts
- 14–13
- 51.9%
- Expected goals
- 1.1–0.5
- 67.8%
- Goals
- 3–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Clarke | McDavid |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-11 | LAK 1–0 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-02-26 | LAK 1–8 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2026-01-10 | LAK 4–3 EDM | 0G 2A 3S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2025-05-01 · PO | LAK 4–6 EDM | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2025-04-29 · PO | LAK 1–3 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-04-27 · PO | LAK 3–4 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 2A 7S |
| 2025-04-25 · PO | LAK 4–7 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 2A 4S |
| 2025-04-23 · PO | LAK 6–2 EDM | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-04-21 · PO | LAK 6–5 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 3A 3S |
| 2025-01-13 | LAK 0–1 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2024-12-28 | LAK 4–3 EDM | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
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.
Brandt Clarke
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ COLOpp allows 12th-most FP to DLikely vs Mackenzie Blackwood (.903)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ SJS1.6 ptsOpp allows 13th-fewest FP to DSchedule edge −3.2 win%vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)
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 Brandt Clarke 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 Brandt Clarke's 1.97. Clarke had 40 points in 82 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, Brandt Clarke or Connor McDavid?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Connor McDavid leads in 28 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Clarke and McDavid done against each other?
- In 11 games against each other in our data, Clarke's team went 5–6. Clarke had 5 points (2 goals) and McDavid had 16 (5 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 →