Who to start · 2025-26
Chandler Stephenson vs Connor McDavid
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Connor McDavid projects to 3.45 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Chandler Stephenson's 1.47.
Stephenson had 49 points in 80 games; McDavid had 138 in 82 games.
This week Stephenson has 2 games left with 1 soft matchup; McDavid has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Stephenson for 2.9 ESPN points to McDavid's 2.3.
Connor McDavid has the better number in 26 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Stephenson's biggest edges: Blocked shots 56, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.020, Hardest shot 85.6.
McDavid's biggest edges: High-danger chances 57.5%, Transition attempts /60 2.12, Sequence xG 56.6%.
Head to head on the dot, Stephenson leads McDavid 39–37.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 6 A, 2 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Chandler Stephenson
1.47
fantasy points per game
Connor McDavid
3.45
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Connor McDavid has the edge.
| Points per game from | Stephenson | McDavid |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.50 | 1.15 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.39 | 1.32 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.09 | 0.35 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.12 | 0.35 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.02 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.33 | 0.22 |
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: Stephenson vs McDavid
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.
Stephenson 5G 3A, 34 SOG · McDavid 17G 20A, 105 SOG
Stephenson's offensive zone 16–10 · neutral 12–13 · Stephenson's defensive zone 11–14 (2021-22 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Stephenson's side)
12:19 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Stephenson's side
- Shot attempts
- 4–14
- 22.2%
- Expected goals
- 0.0–1.1
- 1.0%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Stephenson | McDavid |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-31 | SEA 0–3 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-12-04 | SEA 4–9 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 3G 1A 7S |
| 2025-11-29 | SEA 0–4 EDM | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2025-10-25 | SEA 3–2 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-01-27 | SEA 2–4 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-01-04 | SEA 2–4 EDM | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2024-02-06 | VGK 3–1 EDM | 1G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 8S |
| 2023-11-28 | VGK 4–5 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 2A 2S |
| 2023-05-14 · PO | VGK 5–2 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2023-05-12 · PO | VGK 4–3 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 2G 0A 6S |
| 2023-05-10 · PO | VGK 1–4 EDM | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 4S |
| 2023-05-08 · PO | VGK 5–1 EDM | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
Latest 12 of 28 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.
Chandler Stephenson
3games (2 left)
2.9proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ CGYOpp allows 2nd-most FP to CLikely vs Dustin Wolf (.899)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ EDM1.5 ptsOpp allows 12th-most FP to CLikely vs Tristan Jarry (.882)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs CGYB2B1.5 ptsOpp allows 2nd-most FP to CLikely vs Dustin Wolf (.899)
Connor McDavid
3games (1 left)
2.3proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VANOpp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA2.3 ptsOpp allows 6th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Chandler Stephenson or Connor McDavid in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Connor McDavid projects to 3.45 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Chandler Stephenson's 1.47. Stephenson had 49 points in 80 games; McDavid had 138 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, Chandler Stephenson or Connor McDavid?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Connor McDavid 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 Stephenson and McDavid done against each other?
- In 28 games against each other in our data, Stephenson's team went 12–16. Stephenson had 8 points (5 goals) and McDavid had 37 (17 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Stephenson or McDavid?
- Against each other, Stephenson has won 39 and McDavid 37 of their 76 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 →