Who to start · 2025-26
Connor McDavid vs Dylan Cozens
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Connor McDavid projects to 3.45 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Dylan Cozens's 1.90.
McDavid had 138 points in 82 games; Cozens had 59 in 82 games.
This week McDavid has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Cozens has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project McDavid for 2.3 ESPN points to Cozens's 1.4.
Connor McDavid has the better number in 21 of the 35 stats both are ranked on.
McDavid's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +1.05, Plus/minus +17, Forecheck xG /60 0.36.
Cozens's biggest edges: Hits 215, Hardest shot 90.0, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.001.
Head to head on the dot, McDavid leads Cozens 12–12.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 6 A, 2 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Connor McDavid
3.21
fantasy points per game
Dylan Cozens
1.90
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Connor McDavid has the edge.
| Points per game from | McDavid | Cozens |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.17 | 0.68 |
| Assists (+1) | 1.10 | 0.38 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.33 | 0.18 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.37 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.26 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.18 | 0.15 |
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 Cozens
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.
McDavid 4G 9A, 24 SOG · Cozens 5G 1A, 21 SOG
McDavid's offensive zone 2–5 · neutral 6–6 · McDavid's defensive zone 4–1 (2021-22 to 2025-26)
McDavid blocked 0 of Cozens's shots; Cozens blocked 1 of McDavid's.
On the ice against each other (McDavid's side)
5:23 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from McDavid's side
- Shot attempts
- 6–4
- 60.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.2
- 69.5%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | McDavid | Cozens |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-03 | EDM 5–4 OTT | 0G 2A 4S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-10-21 | EDM 3–2 OTT | 1G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2024-03-21 | EDM 8–3 BUF | 0G 4A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-03-09 | EDM 2–3 BUF | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2023-03-06 | EDM 3–2 BUF | 2G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 6S |
| 2022-10-18 | EDM 2–4 BUF | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2022-03-17 | EDM 6–1 BUF | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2021-11-12 | EDM 2–3 BUF | 0G 1A 4S | 2G 0A 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.
Connor McDavid
3games (1 left)
2.3proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VANOpp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA2.3 ptsOpp allows 6th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)
Dylan Cozens
1games
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TOR1.4 ptsOpp allows 7th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Connor McDavid or Dylan Cozens 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 Dylan Cozens's 1.90. McDavid had 138 points in 82 games; Cozens had 59 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 McDavid or Dylan Cozens?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Connor McDavid leads in 21 of 35 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have McDavid and Cozens done against each other?
- In 8 games against each other in our data, McDavid's team went 5–3. McDavid had 13 points (4 goals) and Cozens had 6 (5 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, McDavid or Cozens?
- Against each other, McDavid has won 12 and Cozens 12 of their 24 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 →