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Who to start · 2025-26

Carter Verhaeghe vs Sam Malinski

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Carter Verhaeghe projects to 1.50 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Malinski's 1.44.

Verhaeghe had 55 points in 77 games; Malinski had 40 in 82 games.

This week Verhaeghe has 1 game left; Malinski has 1 left. We project Malinski for 1.4 ESPN points to Verhaeghe's 1.3.

Carter Verhaeghe has the better number in 18 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

Verhaeghe's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.014, Ice time per game 17:37, Ice-time share 29.0%.

Malinski's biggest edges: Plus/minus +43, On-ice PDO 1035, Faceoffs won 0.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Carter Verhaeghe

1.50

fantasy points per game

Sam Malinski

1.44

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Carter Verhaeghe has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromVerhaegheMalinski
Goals (+2)0.570.18
Assists (+1)0.400.37
Power-play points (+0.5)0.070.01
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.000.00
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.220.20
Hits (+0.1)0.080.05
Blocks (+0.5)0.160.64

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 Malinski

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.

VerhaegheMalinski
1Team record in 4 meetings3
2Points in those games2

Verhaeghe 2G 0A, 10 SOG · Malinski 1G 1A, 6 SOG

2Hits on each other0
0Shots blocked by the other1

Verhaeghe blocked 0 of Malinski's shots; Malinski blocked 1 of Verhaeghe's.

On the ice against each other (Verhaeghe's side)

6:38 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Verhaeghe's side

Shot attempts
6–11
35.3%
Expected goals
0.5–0.6
49.2%
Goals
1–0

Games against each other

Games between Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Malinski
DateScoreVerhaegheMalinski
2026-01-04FLA 2–1 COL0G 0A 0S0G 0A 0S
2025-12-11FLA 2–6 COL0G 0A 3S1G 1A 3S
2025-01-06FLA 1–3 COL1G 0A 3S0G 0A 1S
2024-11-23FLA 4–7 COL1G 0A 4S0G 0A 2S

Every stat, side by side

Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.

VerhaegheMalinski

Fantasy box score

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)

1.3proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 @ CAR
  • Thu, Oct 1 @ SJS
    Schedule edge −1.0 win%
  • Sun, Oct 4 @ ANA1.3 pts

Sam Malinski

2games (1 left)

1.4proj. ESPN pts

  • Wed, Sep 30 vs LAK
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs STL1.4 pts
    Schedule edge +9.3 win%

FAQ

Should I start Carter Verhaeghe or Sam Malinski in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Carter Verhaeghe projects to 1.50 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Malinski's 1.44. Verhaeghe had 55 points in 77 games; Malinski had 40 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, Carter Verhaeghe or Sam Malinski?
On 2025-26 numbers, Carter Verhaeghe leads in 18 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
How have Verhaeghe and Malinski done against each other?
In 4 games against each other in our data, Verhaeghe's team went 1–3. Verhaeghe had 2 points (2 goals) and Malinski had 2 (1 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 →