Who to start · 2025-26
Carter Verhaeghe 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 Carter Verhaeghe's 1.50.
Verhaeghe had 55 points in 77 games; MacKinnon had 127 in 80 games.
This week Verhaeghe has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; MacKinnon has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project MacKinnon for 2.2 ESPN points to Verhaeghe's 1.6.
Nathan MacKinnon has the better number in 33 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Verhaeghe's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.014, Hits 68.
MacKinnon's biggest edges: Plus/minus +57, Draw Equity /100 +0.013, Faceoff win % 51.0%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 8 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Carter Verhaeghe
1.50
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 | Verhaeghe | MacKinnon |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.57 | 1.49 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.40 | 0.87 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.07 | 0.21 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.22 | 0.46 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.09 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.16 | 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: Verhaeghe vs MacKinnon
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2019-20 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Verhaeghe 6G 4A, 30 SOG · MacKinnon 5G 10A, 44 SOG
Verhaeghe's offensive zone 1–1 · neutral 0–1 · Verhaeghe's defensive zone 0–0 (2021-22 to 2024-25)
On the ice against each other (Verhaeghe's side)
7:20 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Verhaeghe's side
- Shot attempts
- 3–14
- 17.6%
- Expected goals
- 0.0–1.0
- 2.0%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Verhaeghe | MacKinnon |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-04 | FLA 2–1 COL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2025-12-11 | FLA 2–6 COL | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 1A 7S |
| 2025-01-06 | FLA 1–3 COL | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2024-11-23 | FLA 4–7 COL | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-02-10 | FLA 4–0 COL | 1G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-01-06 | FLA 8–4 COL | 2G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2023-02-11 | FLA 3–5 COL | 0G 0A 5S | 2G 1A 6S |
| 2023-01-10 | FLA 5–4 COL | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2021-12-12 | FLA 2–3 COL | 0G 2A 0S | 0G 2A 6S |
| 2021-10-21 | FLA 4–1 COL | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2020-02-17 | TBL 4–3 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 5S |
| 2019-10-19 | TBL 2–6 COL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 3S |
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.
Carter Verhaeghe
3games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ CAROpp allows 13th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ SJSOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ ANA1.6 ptsOpp allows 9th-most FP to CLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
Nathan MacKinnon
2games (1 left)
2.2proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows the most FP to CLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL2.2 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Carter Verhaeghe 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 Carter Verhaeghe's 1.50. Verhaeghe had 55 points in 77 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, Carter Verhaeghe or Nathan MacKinnon?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nathan MacKinnon leads in 33 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Verhaeghe and MacKinnon done against each other?
- In 12 games against each other in our data, Verhaeghe's team went 6–6. Verhaeghe had 10 points (6 goals) and MacKinnon had 15 (5 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Verhaeghe or MacKinnon?
- Against each other, Verhaeghe has won 1 and MacKinnon 2 of their 3 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 →