Who to start · 2026-27
Brayden McNabb vs Matvei Gridin
In 2026-27, Matvei Gridin scored 1.54 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Brayden McNabb's 1.46.
McNabb had 8 points in 21 games; Gridin had 12 in 20 games.
This week McNabb has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Gridin has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. In ESPN default points scoring we project Gridin for 1.7 to McNabb's 1.6 over the games left.
Matvei Gridin has the better number in 17 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
McNabb's biggest edges: On-ice PDO 1073, Plus/minus +16, Faceoffs won 0.
Gridin's biggest edges: Top skating speed 23.1, 20+ mph bursts 55, Power-play share 71.6%.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Brayden McNabb rates ahead, +1.1 to -1.4 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: McNabb is steady, On-ice xGF/60 2.37 (was 3.33); Gridin is steady.
- • McNabb, last 10 games (Oct 22–Nov 13): 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 13 SOG.
- • Gridin, last 10 games (Oct 26–Nov 14): 4 G, 3 A, 2 PPP, 24 SOG.
Vegas Golden Knights · Calgary Flames · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Under Standard (6 categories), Brayden McNabb has the edge (McNabb wins 3, Gridin wins 3 of 6 categories).
| Category | McNabb | Gridin |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.00 | 0.30 |
| Assists / game | 0.38 | 0.30 |
| Plus/minus / game | 0.76 | -0.40 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.00 | 0.25 |
| Shots on goal / game | 1.14 | 2.20 |
| Hits / game | 1.57 | 0.25 |
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 Gridin
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2025-26 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
McNabb 0G 1A, 3 SOG · Gridin 0G 1A, 5 SOG
McNabb blocked 1 of Gridin's shots; Gridin blocked 0 of McNabb's.
On the ice against each other (McNabb's side)
9:31 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27, from McNabb's side
- Shot attempts
- 9–5
- 64.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.3
- 45.8%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | McNabb | Gridin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-15 | VGK 6–2 CGY | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2026-04-02 | VGK 6–3 CGY | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-10-14 | VGK 4–2 CGY | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
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
Matvei Gridin
3games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN default pts
- Wed, Nov 11 vs NYROpp allows 14th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Joonas Korpisalo (.931)
- Sat, Nov 14 @ LAKOpp allows 10th-most FP to RWLikely vs Anton Forsberg (.908)
- Opp allows 4th-most FP to RWLikely vs Ville Husso (.868)
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 Matvei Gridin in fantasy hockey?
- In 2026-27, Matvei Gridin scored 1.54 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Brayden McNabb's 1.46. McNabb had 8 points in 21 games; Gridin had 12 in 20 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 Matvei Gridin?
- On 2026-27 numbers, Matvei Gridin leads in 17 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 Gridin done against each other?
- In 3 games against each other in our data, McNabb's team went 3–0. McNabb had 1 points (0 goals) and Gridin had 1 (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 →