Who to start · 2025-26
Cole Caufield 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 Cole Caufield's 2.29.
Caufield had 88 points in 81 games; McDavid had 138 in 82 games.
This week Caufield has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; McDavid has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project McDavid for 2.3 ESPN points to Caufield's 1.6.
Connor McDavid has the better number in 25 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Caufield's biggest edges: On-ice PDO 1042, Hardest shot 88.0, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.016.
McDavid's biggest edges: Ascension score 62, Faceoffs won 457, Penalty minutes 44.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 6 A, 2 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Cole Caufield
2.29
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 | Caufield | McDavid |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.18 | 1.15 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.43 | 1.32 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.17 | 0.35 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.32 | 0.35 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.12 | 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: Caufield vs McDavid
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2020-21 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Caufield 6G 3A, 40 SOG · McDavid 4G 13A, 29 SOG
On the ice against each other (Caufield's side)
7:24 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Caufield's side
- Shot attempts
- 7–7
- 50.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.0
- 95.4%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Caufield | McDavid |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-14 | MTL 4–1 EDM | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-10-23 | MTL 5–6 EDM | 2G 0A 5S | 0G 3A 3S |
| 2025-03-06 | MTL 2–3 EDM | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2024-11-18 | MTL 3–0 EDM | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-03-19 | MTL 2–3 EDM | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 1A 9S |
| 2024-01-13 | MTL 1–2 EDM | 1G 0A 7S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2022-12-03 | MTL 3–5 EDM | 0G 0A 4S | 2G 2A 2S |
| 2022-03-05 | MTL 5–2 EDM | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2021-05-12 | MTL 3–4 EDM | 1G 1A 5S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2021-05-10 | MTL 3–4 EDM | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 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.
Cole Caufield
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ TOROpp allows 16th-most FP to RWLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ PIT1.6 ptsOpp allows the fewest FP to RWLikely vs Arturs Silovs (.888)
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 Cole Caufield 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 Cole Caufield's 2.29. Caufield had 88 points in 81 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, Cole Caufield or Connor McDavid?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Connor McDavid leads in 25 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Caufield and McDavid done against each other?
- In 10 games against each other in our data, Caufield's team went 3–7. Caufield had 9 points (6 goals) and McDavid had 17 (4 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 →