Who to start · 2026-27
Brayden McNabb vs Connor Murphy
In 2026-27, Brayden McNabb scored 1.46 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Connor Murphy's 1.45.
McNabb had 8 points in 21 games; Murphy had 1 in 21 games.
This week McNabb has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Murphy has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. In ESPN default points scoring we project McNabb for 1.6 to Murphy's 1.5 over the games left.
Brayden McNabb has the better number in 20 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
McNabb's biggest edges: Sequence xG 59.8%, Expected goals 60.0%, On-ice PDO 1073.
Murphy's biggest edges: Top skating speed 22.4, Penalty minutes 31, Goals above expected −0.3.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Brayden McNabb rates ahead, +1.1 to -3.7 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: McNabb is steady, On-ice xGF/60 2.37 (was 3.33); Murphy is steady, On-ice xGF/60 1.23 (was 1.68).
- • McNabb, last 10 games (Oct 22–Nov 13): 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 13 SOG.
- • Murphy, last 10 games (Oct 26–Nov 14): 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 14 SOG.
Vegas Golden Knights · Edmonton Oilers · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Under Standard (6 categories), Brayden McNabb has the edge (McNabb wins 4, Murphy wins 0 of 6 categories).
| Category | McNabb | Murphy |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Assists / game | 0.38 | 0.05 |
| Plus/minus / game | 0.76 | -0.24 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal / game | 1.14 | 1.10 |
| Hits / game | 1.57 | 1.00 |
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 scoring choice is shared with Who Should I Start: saved on this device, and on your account when you are signed in.
Head-to-head: McNabb vs Murphy
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
McNabb 1G 4A, 27 SOG · Murphy 0G 6A, 18 SOG
McNabb blocked 2 of Murphy's shots; Murphy blocked 1 of McNabb's.
On the ice against each other (McNabb's side)
19:25 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from McNabb's side
- Shot attempts
- 23–15
- 60.5%
- Expected goals
- 1.0–0.7
- 57.1%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | McNabb | Murphy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-04 | VGK 5–1 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-03-26 | VGK 3–4 EDM | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-03-08 | VGK 2–4 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-12-02 | VGK 4–3 CHI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-03-28 | VGK 5–3 CHI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-02-27 | VGK 7–5 CHI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 3A 1S |
| 2024-04-16 | VGK 3–1 CHI | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-10-27 | VGK 3–4 CHI | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-10-21 | VGK 5–3 CHI | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-02-21 | VGK 2–3 CHI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-12-15 | VGK 4–1 CHI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-10-13 | VGK 1–0 CHI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 24 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, Luck & trend, NHL EDGE tracking continue below
Every stat, side by side (continued)
Transition, turnovers & faceoffs
Usage
Special teams & discipline
This week's schedule
Nov 9 to Nov 15. 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 cover the games left: Edgehalla's rest-of-season rates per game, adjusted for each opponent's scoring allowed, in ESPN default points.
Scored in ESPN default points (G 2, A 1, PPP 0.5, SHP 0.5, SOG 0.1, HIT 0.1, BLK 0.5). Use your league's scoring
Brayden McNabb
3games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN default pts
- Wed, Nov 11 vs UTAOpp allows 10th-most FP to DLikely vs Sebastian Cossa (.862)
- Fri, Nov 13 vs NSHOpp allows 16th-most FP to DLikely vs Juuse Saros (.922)
- Sun, Nov 15 vs VAN1.6 pts
Connor Murphy
4games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN default pts
- Mon, Nov 9 vs NYROpp allows 14th-most FP to DLikely vs Dylan Garand (.910)
- Wed, Nov 11 vs PHIOpp allows 3rd-most FP to DLikely vs Dan Vladar (.879)
- Sat, Nov 14 @ TOROpp allows 7th-most FP to DLikely vs Anthony Stolarz (.905)
- Opp allows 3rd-most FP to Dvs Dan Vladar (.879)
Player data stories
How the game changed, told through the numbers.
- In 2022-23, Four NHL Players Wore a Number in the 90s for Every One in No. 9 The count was 53 to 13, and the incomplete 2025-26 rosters show the same split, 51 to 12.
- The 1,000-Game Club Had Its Biggest Year. Getting In Is No Easier. Seventeen players reached 1,000 NHL games in 2025-26, more than in any season before, in the biggest league the NHL has had.
- Only 14 NHL Defencemen Still Score Like Ken Daneyko A stay-at-home defenceman stays back to defend and leaves the scoring to others.
- How Much Lighter Did the NHL Really Get? Teams write down NHL weights.
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Brayden McNabb or Connor Murphy in fantasy hockey?
- In 2026-27, Brayden McNabb scored 1.46 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Connor Murphy's 1.45. McNabb had 8 points in 21 games; Murphy had 1 in 21 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, Brayden McNabb or Connor Murphy?
- On 2026-27 numbers, Brayden McNabb leads in 20 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have McNabb and Murphy done against each other?
- In 24 games against each other in our data, McNabb's team went 18–6. McNabb had 5 points (1 goals) and Murphy had 6 (0 goals).
2026-27 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 →