Who to start · 2025-26
Brock Nelson 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 Brock Nelson's 2.23.
Nelson had 65 points in 81 games; MacKinnon had 127 in 80 games.
This week Nelson has 1 game left; MacKinnon has 1 left. We project MacKinnon for 3.2 ESPN points to Nelson's 2.0.
Nathan MacKinnon has the better number in 26 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Nelson's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.000, Blocked shots 65, Shorthanded points 1.
MacKinnon's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.83, Luck Meter +52, Offensive-zone start % 71.8%.
Head to head on the dot, MacKinnon leads Nelson 31–29.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 2 A, 3 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 8 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brock Nelson
2.23
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 | Nelson | MacKinnon |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.89 | 1.49 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.87 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.20 | 0.21 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.22 | 0.46 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.09 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.38 | 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: Nelson vs MacKinnon
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.
Nelson 6G 6A, 30 SOG · MacKinnon 5G 15A, 72 SOG
Nelson's offensive zone 7–10 · neutral 10–11 · Nelson's defensive zone 12–10 (2017-18 to 2024-25)
Nelson blocked 2 of MacKinnon's shots; MacKinnon blocked 0 of Nelson's.
Goals each scored with the other picking up an assist (as teammates).
On the ice together
72:47 at 5-on-5 over 33 games, 2025-26
- Shot attempts
- 101–56
- 64.3%
- Expected goals
- 4.2–3.6
- 53.6%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Nelson | MacKinnon |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-01-28 | NYI 5–2 COL | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 7S |
| 2024-10-14 | NYI 6–2 COL | 2G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2024-01-02 | NYI 4–5 COL | 1G 1A 1S | 1G 2A 7S |
| 2023-10-24 | NYI 4–7 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 8S |
| 2022-10-29 | NYI 5–4 COL | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 2A 4S |
| 2022-03-07 | NYI 4–5 COL | 1G 0A 4S | 1G 2A 9S |
| 2022-03-01 | NYI 3–5 COL | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2020-02-19 | NYI 1–3 COL | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2020-01-06 | NYI 1–0 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 7S |
| 2019-02-09 | NYI 4–3 COL | 0G 2A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2018-12-17 | NYI 4–1 COL | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 1A 6S |
| 2017-12-31 | NYI 1–6 COL | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 3A 2S |
Latest 12 of 13 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.
Brock Nelson
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAK
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL2.0 pts
Nathan MacKinnon
2games (1 left)
3.2proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAK
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL3.2 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Brock Nelson 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 Brock Nelson's 2.23. Nelson had 65 points in 81 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, Brock Nelson or Nathan MacKinnon?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nathan MacKinnon leads in 26 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Nelson and MacKinnon done against each other?
- In 13 games against each other in our data, Nelson's team went 7–6. Nelson had 12 points (6 goals) and MacKinnon had 20 (5 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Nelson or MacKinnon?
- Against each other, Nelson has won 29 and MacKinnon 31 of their 60 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 →