Who to start · 2026-27

Connor McDavid vs Emmitt Finnie

Cooling10 P in last 5 (2.50/GP before)

In 2026-27, Connor McDavid scored 4.06 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Emmitt Finnie's 1.55.

McDavid had 50 points in 21 games; Finnie had 11 in 21 games.

This week McDavid has 1 game left; Finnie has no games left. In ESPN default points scoring we project McDavid for 3.7 to Finnie's 0.0 over the games left.

Connor McDavid has the better number in 25 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.

McDavid's biggest edges: Assists 39, Offensive-zone time 48.1%, Power-play points 20.

Finnie's biggest edges: Ascension score 83, Transition attempts /60 2.03, Hardest shot 88.6.

In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Connor McDavid rates ahead, +16.2 to +0.6 in summed category z-scores.

Role trend over the last 5 games: McDavid is cooling, 10 P in last 5 (2.50/GP before); Finnie is steady.

  • • McDavid, last 10 games (Oct 26–Nov 14): 3 G, 14 A, 8 PPP, 30 SOG.
  • • Finnie, last 10 games (Oct 26–Nov 14): 3 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 22 SOG.

Edmonton Oilers · Detroit Red Wings · Who should I start? · Compare other players

Fantasy value: your scoring

Connor McDavid

+16.2

category z-score total

Emmitt Finnie

+0.6

category z-score total

Under Standard (6 categories), Connor McDavid has the edge (McDavid wins 5, Finnie wins 1 of 6 categories).

Per-stat breakdown under Standard (6 categories)
CategoryMcDavidFinnie
Goals / game0.520.33
Assists / game1.860.19
Plus/minus / game1.240.43
Power-play points / game0.950.10
Shots on goal / game2.762.14
Hits / game0.900.95

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 scoring choice is shared with Who Should I Start: saved on this device, and on your account when you are signed in.

Head-to-head: McDavid vs Finnie

Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2025-26 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.

McDavidFinnie
1Team record in 3 meetings2
5Points in those games4

McDavid 0G 5A, 8 SOG · Finnie 3G 1A, 8 SOG

2Faceoffs against each other6

McDavid's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 1–4 · McDavid's defensive zone 1–2 (2026-27)

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

29:05 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27, from McDavid's side

Shot attempts
24–21
53.3%
Expected goals
1.5–0.5
74.5%
Goals
1–2

Games against each other

Games between Connor McDavid and Emmitt Finnie
DateScoreMcDavidFinnie
2026-10-26EDM 3–4 DET0G 1A 2S1G 0A 1S
2025-12-11EDM 4–1 DET0G 4A 4S0G 0A 3S
2025-10-19EDM 2–4 DET0G 0A 2S2G 1A 4S

Faceoffs: McDavid vs Finnie

Model: Connor McDavid wins 51.4% of draws against Emmitt Finnie on average (L shot vs L shot). Same-handed, so the dot decides who is on his strong side; the gap between the left and right dots is the real matchup.

Connor McDavid's predicted win % against Emmitt Finnie at each dot, in McDavid's attacking direction, at home and on the road.
McDavid atOZ leftOZ rightNZ left (att.)NZ right (att.)CentreNZ left (def.)NZ right (def.)DZ leftDZ right
Home59%43%60%44%52%60%44%61%45%
Road58%41%59%42%51%59%42%60%44%

Head-to-head 2026-27: McDavid 2–6 (25.0%). Blended with the model: 51.0%. The record is a bit unusual for this matchup (z -1.5); pair-specific edges are about ±2 points, so the model carries most of the weight.

McDavid faceoffs · Finnie faceoffs · how the model works

Every stat, side by side

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

McDavidFinnie

Fantasy box score

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs, Usage, Special teams & discipline, Luck & trend, NHL EDGE tracking continue below

Every stat, side by side (continued)

McDavidFinnie

Special teams & discipline

This week's schedule

Nov 9 to Nov 15. 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 cover the games left: Edgehalla's rest-of-season rates per game, adjusted for each opponent's scoring allowed, in ESPN default points.

Scored in ESPN default points (G 2, A 1, PPP 0.5, SHP 0.5, SOG 0.1, HIT 0.1, BLK 0.5). Use your league's scoring

Edmonton Oilers logo

Connor McDavid

4games (1 left)

3.7proj. ESPN default pts

  • Mon, Nov 9 vs NYR
    Opp allows 7th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Dylan Garand (.910)
  • Wed, Nov 11 vs PHI
    Opp allows 16th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Dan Vladar (.879)
  • Sat, Nov 14 @ TOR
    Opp allows 16th-most FP to CLikely vs Anthony Stolarz (.905)
  • Sun, Nov 15 @ PHIB2B3.7 pts
    Opp allows 16th-fewest FP to Cvs Dan Vladar (.879)
Detroit Red Wings logo

Emmitt Finnie

3games (0 left)

0.0proj. ESPN default pts

Player data stories

How the game changed, told through the numbers.

All NHL data stories

FAQ

Should I start Connor McDavid or Emmitt Finnie in fantasy hockey?
In 2026-27, Connor McDavid scored 4.06 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Emmitt Finnie's 1.55. McDavid had 50 points in 21 games; Finnie had 11 in 21 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 Emmitt Finnie?
On 2026-27 numbers, Connor McDavid leads in 25 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 Finnie done against each other?
In 3 games against each other in our data, McDavid's team went 1–2. McDavid had 5 points (0 goals) and Finnie had 4 (3 goals).
Who wins more faceoffs, McDavid or Finnie?
Against each other, McDavid has won 2 and Finnie 6 of their 8 head-to-head draws.

2026-27 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 →