Who to start · 2025-26
Chandler Stephenson vs John Tavares
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, John Tavares projects to 1.80 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Chandler Stephenson's 1.47.
Stephenson had 49 points in 80 games; Tavares had 71 in 82 games.
This week Stephenson has 2 games left with 1 soft matchup; Tavares has 1 left. We project Stephenson for 2.9 ESPN points to Tavares's 1.7.
John Tavares has the better number in 24 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Stephenson's biggest edges: Blocked shots 56, Goals above expected +2.9, 20+ mph bursts 169.
Tavares's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.34, Offensive-zone start % 56.1%, Hits 74.
Head to head on the dot, Stephenson leads Tavares 20–17.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Chandler Stephenson
1.47
fantasy points per game
John Tavares
1.80
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, John Tavares has the edge.
| Points per game from | Stephenson | Tavares |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.50 | 0.67 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.39 | 0.49 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.09 | 0.11 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.12 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.02 | 0.09 |
| 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 Tavares
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 2G 9A, 16 SOG · Tavares 7G 7A, 46 SOG
Stephenson's offensive zone 7–1 · neutral 5–4 · Stephenson's defensive zone 8–12 (2019-20 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Stephenson's side)
5:34 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Stephenson's side
- Shot attempts
- 5–2
- 71.4%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.1
- 61.4%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Stephenson | Tavares |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-29 | SEA 5–2 TOR | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-10-18 | SEA 4–3 TOR | 0G 2A 2S | 2G 0A 2S |
| 2025-02-06 | SEA 1–3 TOR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-10-31 | SEA 1–4 TOR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2024-02-27 | VGK 6–2 TOR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-02-22 | VGK 3–7 TOR | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2022-11-08 | VGK 4–3 TOR | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2022-10-24 | VGK 3–1 TOR | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2022-01-11 | VGK 3–4 TOR | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2021-11-02 | VGK 0–4 TOR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2019-10-16 | WSH 4–3 TOR | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2019-02-21 | WSH 3–2 TOR | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 17 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)
John Tavares
3games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs MTLOpp allows 14th-most FP to CLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
- Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2BOpp allows 15th-most FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT1.7 ptsvs Linus Ullmark (.891)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Chandler Stephenson or John Tavares in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, John Tavares projects to 1.80 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Chandler Stephenson's 1.47. Stephenson had 49 points in 80 games; Tavares had 71 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 John Tavares?
- On 2025-26 numbers, John Tavares leads in 24 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 Tavares done against each other?
- In 17 games against each other in our data, Stephenson's team went 9–8. Stephenson had 11 points (2 goals) and Tavares had 14 (7 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Stephenson or Tavares?
- Against each other, Stephenson has won 20 and Tavares 17 of their 37 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 →