Who to start · 2025-26
Connor Bedard vs Sam Malinski
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Connor Bedard projects to 2.24 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Malinski's 1.44.
Bedard had 75 points in 69 games; Malinski had 40 in 82 games.
This week Bedard has 1 game left; Malinski has 1 left. We project Bedard for 2.0 ESPN points to Malinski's 1.4.
They split the 33 stats both are ranked on 16–16.
Bedard's biggest edges: Ice time per game 20:52, Ice-time share 34.3%, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.005.
Malinski's biggest edges: Scoring chances 61.1%, High-danger chances 58.1%, Fenwick 58.7%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Connor Bedard
2.24
fantasy points per game
Sam Malinski
1.43
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Connor Bedard has the edge.
| Points per game from | Bedard | Malinski |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.87 | 0.20 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.65 | 0.39 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.15 | 0.01 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.33 | 0.20 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.06 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.20 | 0.58 |
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: Bedard vs Malinski
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2023-24 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Bedard 2G 4A, 17 SOG · Malinski 0G 3A, 16 SOG
Bedard blocked 2 of Malinski's shots; Malinski blocked 1 of Bedard's.
On the ice against each other (Bedard's side)
11:38 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Bedard's side
- Shot attempts
- 10–18
- 35.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–1.2
- 16.8%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Bedard | Malinski |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-20 | CHI 1–4 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2026-02-28 | CHI 1–3 COL | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-11-23 | CHI 0–1 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-04-02 | CHI 2–3 COL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-01-08 | CHI 3–1 COL | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-10-28 | CHI 5–2 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-12-19 | CHI 3–2 COL | 0G 2A 6S | 0G 1A 2S |
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.
Connor Bedard
3games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ VGK
- Thu, Oct 1 @ UTA
- Sat, Oct 3 @ BUF2.0 ptsSchedule edge −1.0 win%
Sam Malinski
2games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAK
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL1.4 ptsSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Connor Bedard or Sam Malinski in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Connor Bedard projects to 2.24 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Malinski's 1.44. Bedard had 75 points in 69 games; Malinski had 40 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, Connor Bedard or Sam Malinski?
- On 2025-26 numbers they split 16–16 across 33 stats where both qualify.
- How have Bedard and Malinski done against each other?
- In 7 games against each other in our data, Bedard's team went 3–4. Bedard had 6 points (2 goals) and Malinski had 3 (0 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 →