Who to start · 2025-26
Collin Graf 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 Collin Graf's 1.35.
Graf had 46 points in 81 games; Tavares had 71 in 82 games.
This week Graf has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Tavares has 1 left. We project Tavares for 1.7 ESPN points to Graf's 1.4.
John Tavares has the better number in 19 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Graf's biggest edges: Plus/minus +6, Goals above expected +2.2, Blocked shots 48.
Tavares's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 801, Offensive-zone time 43.2%, Hardest shot 88.5.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Collin Graf
1.35
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 | Graf | Tavares |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.49 | 0.67 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.29 | 0.49 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.11 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.14 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.11 | 0.09 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.31 | 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: Graf vs Tavares
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2024-25 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Graf 2G 0A, 9 SOG · Tavares 3G 2A, 6 SOG
Graf's offensive zone 1–0 · neutral 0–0 · Graf's defensive zone 0–1 (2024-25)
On the ice against each other (Graf's side)
4:53 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Graf's side
- Shot attempts
- 2–5
- 28.6%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.1
- 56.1%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Graf | Tavares |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-02 | SJS 4–1 TOR | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2025-12-11 | SJS 3–2 TOR | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-03-27 | SJS 6–5 TOR | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2025-03-03 | SJS 3–2 TOR | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 1S |
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.
Collin Graf
2games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs FLAOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Akira Schmid (.892)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs LAK1.4 ptsOpp allows 6th-most FP to RWLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
John Tavares
3games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs MTLOpp allows 12th-most FP to CLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
- Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2BOpp allows 13th-most FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT1.7 ptsLikely vs Linus Ullmark (.891)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Collin Graf 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 Collin Graf's 1.35. Graf had 46 points in 81 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, Collin Graf or John Tavares?
- On 2025-26 numbers, John Tavares leads in 19 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Graf and Tavares done against each other?
- In 4 games against each other in our data, Graf's team went 4–0. Graf had 2 points (2 goals) and Tavares had 5 (3 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Graf or Tavares?
- Against each other, Graf has won 1 and Tavares 1 of their 2 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 →