Edgehalla

Who to start · 2025-26

Connor McDavid vs Conor Garland

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Connor McDavid projects to 3.45 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Conor Garland's 1.16.

McDavid had 138 points in 82 games; Garland had 33 in 71 games.

This week McDavid has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Garland has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project McDavid for 2.3 ESPN points to Garland's 0.8.

Connor McDavid has the better number in 30 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

McDavid's biggest edges: Plus/minus +17, High-danger chances 57.5%, Offensive-zone time 47.7%.

Garland's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.017, Hardest shot 84.1, Blocked shots 32.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 6 A, 2 PPP, 3 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Connor McDavid

3.45

fantasy points per game

Conor Garland

1.16

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Connor McDavid has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromMcDavidGarland
Goals (+2)1.150.32
Assists (+1)1.320.28
Power-play points (+0.5)0.350.07
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.010.01
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.350.18
Hits (+0.1)0.050.07
Blocks (+0.5)0.220.24

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: McDavid vs Garland

Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2018-19 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.

McDavidGarland
15Team record in 27 meetings12
40Points in those games16

McDavid 16G 24A, 92 SOG · Garland 7G 9A, 58 SOG

0Faceoffs against each other1

McDavid's offensive zone 0–1 · neutral 0–0 · McDavid's defensive zone 0–0 (2025-26)

1Hits on each other1
0Penalties drawn off the other1

On the ice against each other (McDavid's side)

22:47 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from McDavid's side

Shot attempts
29–15
65.9%
Expected goals
2.7–0.6
81.1%
Goals
0–0

Games against each other

Games between Connor McDavid and Conor Garland
DateScoreMcDavidGarland
2026-01-17EDM 6–0 VAN0G 1A 1S0G 0A 0S
2025-10-26EDM 3–4 VAN0G 1A 3S0G 2A 2S
2025-10-11EDM 3–1 VAN0G 1A 3S0G 0A 3S
2025-01-18EDM 2–3 VAN0G 1A 2S0G 0A 3S
2024-11-09EDM 7–3 VAN1G 2A 4S0G 0A 0S
2024-05-20 · POEDM 3–2 VAN0G 0A 1S1G 0A 3S
2024-05-18 · POEDM 5–1 VAN0G 3A 2S0G 0A 1S
2024-05-16 · POEDM 2–3 VAN0G 0A 2S0G 0A 1S
2024-05-14 · POEDM 3–2 VAN0G 1A 4S1G 0A 4S
2024-05-12 · POEDM 3–4 VAN0G 0A 4S0G 0A 0S
2024-05-10 · POEDM 4–3 VAN1G 3A 5S0G 0A 5S
2024-05-08 · POEDM 4–5 VAN0G 1A 0S1G 0A 2S

Latest 12 of 27 meetings.

Every stat, side by side

Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.

McDavidGarland

Fantasy box score

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 McDavid

3games (1 left)

2.3proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 vs VAN
    Opp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
  • Thu, Oct 1 @ VAN
    Opp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA2.3 pts
    Opp allows 6th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)

Conor Garland

2games (1 left)

0.8proj. ESPN pts

  • Thu, Oct 1 vs BUF
    Opp allows 3rd-most FP to RWLikely vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.910)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs UTA0.8 pts
    Opp allows 2nd-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)

FAQ

Should I start Connor McDavid or Conor Garland 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 Conor Garland's 1.16. McDavid had 138 points in 82 games; Garland had 33 in 71 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 McDavid or Conor Garland?
On 2025-26 numbers, Connor McDavid leads in 30 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
How have McDavid and Garland done against each other?
In 27 games against each other in our data, McDavid's team went 15–12. McDavid had 40 points (16 goals) and Garland had 16 (7 goals).
Who wins more faceoffs, McDavid or Garland?
Against each other, McDavid has won 0 and Garland 1 of their 1 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 →