Who to start · 2025-26
Cole Caufield 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 Cole Caufield's 2.29.
Caufield had 88 points in 81 games; MacKinnon had 127 in 80 games.
This week Caufield has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; MacKinnon has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project MacKinnon for 2.2 ESPN points to Caufield's 1.6.
Nathan MacKinnon has the better number in 29 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Caufield's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 −0.016, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.37, Goals above expected +8.1.
MacKinnon's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 681, Penalty minutes 39, 20+ mph bursts 455.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 8 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Cole Caufield
2.29
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 | Caufield | MacKinnon |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.18 | 1.49 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.43 | 0.87 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.17 | 0.21 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.32 | 0.46 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.09 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.12 | 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: Caufield vs MacKinnon
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Caufield 2G 3A, 18 SOG · MacKinnon 2G 5A, 29 SOG
On the ice against each other (Caufield's side)
14:54 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Caufield's side
- Shot attempts
- 8–20
- 28.6%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–1.1
- 20.9%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Caufield | MacKinnon |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-29 | MTL 7–3 COL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-11-29 | MTL 2–7 COL | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 2A 5S |
| 2025-03-22 | MTL 4–5 COL | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2025-01-04 | MTL 2–1 COL | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-03-26 | MTL 2–1 COL | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2024-01-15 | MTL 4–3 COL | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 7S |
| 2021-12-02 | MTL 1–4 COL | 0G 1A 1S | 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.
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)
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 +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Cole Caufield 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 Cole Caufield's 2.29. Caufield had 88 points in 81 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, Cole Caufield or Nathan MacKinnon?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nathan MacKinnon leads in 29 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 MacKinnon done against each other?
- In 7 games against each other in our data, Caufield's team went 4–3. Caufield had 5 points (2 goals) and MacKinnon had 7 (2 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 →