Who to start · 2025-26
Cole Hutson vs Connor McDavid
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Connor McDavid projects to 3.68 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Cole Hutson's 1.54.
Hutson had 10 points in 14 games; McDavid had 138 in 82 games.
This week Hutson has 2 games left with 1 soft matchup; McDavid has 3 left with 1 tough matchup. In ESPN default points scoring we project McDavid for 9.3 to Hutson's 3.0 over the games left.
Connor McDavid has the better number in 12 of the 14 stats both are ranked on.
Hutson's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.18, Luck Meter +21, Forecheck xG /60 0.36.
McDavid's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +1.05, High-danger chances 57.5%, Sequence xG 56.6%.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Connor McDavid rates ahead, +20.7 to +5.8 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: Hutson is steady, PP1 in 0 of last 5 (was 8 of 17); McDavid is rising, 14 P in last 5 (1.85/GP before).
- • Cole Hutson is a rookie: 14 NHL games before this season.
- • 2026-27 so far: 8 GP, 1 G, 3 A, 1 PPP, 19 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 8 GP, 6 G, 17 A, 5 PPP, 18 SOG.
Washington Capitals · Edmonton Oilers · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Cole Hutson
+5.8
category z-score total
Connor McDavid
+20.7
category z-score total
Under Standard (6 categories), Connor McDavid has the edge (Hutson wins 1, McDavid wins 5 of 6 categories).
| Category | Hutson | McDavid |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.18 | 0.64 |
| Assists / game | 0.46 | 1.45 |
| Plus/minus / game | -0.10 | 0.96 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.28 | 0.65 |
| Shots on goal / game | 1.85 | 3.22 |
| Hits / game | 1.01 | 0.80 |
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 scoring choice is shared with Who Should I Start: saved on this device, and on your account when you are signed in.
Head-to-head
Cole Hutson and Connor McDavid have no head-to-head events in our data yet (regular season and playoffs since 2019-20).
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
Oct 19 to Oct 25. 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 cover the games left: Edgehalla's rest-of-season rates per game, adjusted for each opponent's scoring allowed, in ESPN default points.
Scored in ESPN default points (G 2, A 1, PPP 0.5, SHP 0.5, SOG 0.1, HIT 0.1, BLK 0.5). Use your league's scoring
Cole Hutson
2games
3.0proj. ESPN default pts
- Tue, Oct 20 vs LAK1.6 ptsOpp allows 7th-most FP to Dvs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 24 vs BUF1.4 ptsOpp allows 15th-most FP to DLikely vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.910)
Connor McDavid
3games
9.3proj. ESPN default pts
- Tue, Oct 20 vs MIN3.2 pts
- Thu, Oct 22 vs CAR2.8 pts
- Sat, Oct 24 vs TOR3.3 ptsOpp allows 13th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Cole Hutson or Connor McDavid in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Connor McDavid projects to 3.68 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Cole Hutson's 1.54. Hutson had 10 points in 14 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 Hutson or Connor McDavid?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Connor McDavid leads in 12 of 14 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
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 →