Who to start · 2025-26
Connor McDavid vs Elias Pettersson
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Connor McDavid projects to 3.45 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Elias Pettersson's 2.34.
McDavid had 138 points in 82 games; Pettersson had 51 in 74 games.
This week McDavid has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Pettersson has 2 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Pettersson for 3.8 ESPN points to McDavid's 2.3.
Connor McDavid has the better number in 31 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
McDavid's biggest edges: Plus/minus +17, Transition attempts /60 2.12, Expected goals 56.5%.
Pettersson's biggest edges: Hardest shot 91.8, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.002, Blocked shots 108.
Head to head on the dot, McDavid leads Pettersson 54–41.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 6 A, 2 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 2 G, 2 A, 2 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Connor McDavid
3.45
fantasy points per game
Elias Pettersson
2.34
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Connor McDavid has the edge.
| Points per game from | McDavid | Pettersson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.15 | 0.59 |
| Assists (+1) | 1.32 | 0.55 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.35 | 0.19 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.35 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.13 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.70 |
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 Pettersson
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2018-19 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
McDavid 17G 43A, 120 SOG · Pettersson 11G 18A, 84 SOG
McDavid's offensive zone 13–13 · neutral 22–17 · McDavid's defensive zone 19–11 (2018-19 to 2026-27)
McDavid blocked 1 of Pettersson's shots; Pettersson blocked 5 of McDavid's.
On the ice against each other (McDavid's side)
31:15 at 5-on-5 over 5 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27, from McDavid's side
- Shot attempts
- 36–19
- 65.5%
- Expected goals
- 1.3–0.9
- 59.5%
- Goals
- 2–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | McDavid | Pettersson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-01 | EDM 9–7 VAN | 1G 4A 3S | 1G 2A 2S |
| 2026-09-29 | EDM 5–6 VAN | 0G 2A 0S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2026-04-16 | EDM 6–1 VAN | 0G 4A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2026-01-17 | EDM 6–0 VAN | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-10-26 | EDM 3–4 VAN | 0G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-10-11 | EDM 3–1 VAN | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-01-18 | EDM 2–3 VAN | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-11-09 | EDM 7–3 VAN | 1G 2A 4S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2024-05-20 · PO | EDM 3–2 VAN | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-05-18 · PO | EDM 5–1 VAN | 0G 3A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-05-16 · PO | EDM 2–3 VAN | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2024-05-14 · PO | EDM 3–2 VAN | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 35 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.
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)
Elias Pettersson
4games (2 left)
3.8proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ EDMOpp allows 12th-most FP to CLikely vs Tristan Jarry (.882)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs EDMOpp allows 12th-most FP to CLikely vs Devon Levi (.682)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CGY2.3 ptsOpp allows 2nd-most FP to CSchedule edge −3.4 win%Likely vs Dustin Wolf (.899)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs VGKB2B1.5 ptsOpp allows 14th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Carter Hart (.891)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Connor McDavid or Elias Pettersson 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 Elias Pettersson's 2.34. McDavid had 138 points in 82 games; Pettersson had 51 in 74 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 Elias Pettersson?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Connor McDavid leads in 31 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have McDavid and Pettersson done against each other?
- In 35 games against each other in our data, McDavid's team went 20–15. McDavid had 60 points (17 goals) and Pettersson had 29 (11 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, McDavid or Pettersson?
- Against each other, McDavid has won 54 and Pettersson 41 of their 95 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 →