Who to start · 2025-26
Connor McDavid vs Gabriel Vilardi
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Connor McDavid projects to 3.45 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Gabriel Vilardi's 1.76.
McDavid had 138 points in 82 games; Vilardi had 69 in 82 games.
This week McDavid has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Vilardi has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project McDavid for 2.3 ESPN points to Vilardi's 1.3.
Connor McDavid has the better number in 31 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
McDavid's biggest edges: 20+ mph bursts 681, Transition attempts /60 2.12, Top skating speed 24.6.
Vilardi's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 −0.014, On-ice PDO 1018, Blocked shots 35.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 6 A, 2 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Connor McDavid
3.45
fantasy points per game
Gabriel Vilardi
1.76
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Connor McDavid has the edge.
| Points per game from | McDavid | Vilardi |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.15 | 0.69 |
| Assists (+1) | 1.32 | 0.51 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.35 | 0.17 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.35 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.02 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.20 |
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 Vilardi
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2019-20 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
McDavid 8G 19A, 63 SOG · Vilardi 3G 4A, 30 SOG
McDavid's offensive zone 1–0 · neutral 0–0 · McDavid's defensive zone 2–0 (2021-22 to 2023-24)
On the ice against each other (McDavid's side)
14:17 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from McDavid's side
- Shot attempts
- 13–6
- 68.4%
- Expected goals
- 1.3–0.5
- 71.2%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | McDavid | Vilardi |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-08 | EDM 4–3 WPG | 1G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-12-29 | EDM 3–1 WPG | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-12-06 | EDM 6–2 WPG | 0G 2A 5S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2025-03-20 | EDM 3–4 WPG | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-10-09 | EDM 0–6 WPG | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2023-11-30 | EDM 3–1 WPG | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-04-29 · PO | EDM 5–4 LAK | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-04-25 · PO | EDM 6–3 LAK | 0G 2A 4S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-04-23 · PO | EDM 5–4 LAK | 0G 3A 2S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2023-04-21 · PO | EDM 2–3 LAK | 2G 0A 7S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-04-19 · PO | EDM 4–2 LAK | 0G 1A 6S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2023-01-09 | EDM 3–6 LAK | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 3S |
Latest 12 of 18 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)
Gabriel Vilardi
2games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs BOSOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ DET1.3 ptsOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to CLikely vs John Gibson (.901)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Connor McDavid or Gabriel Vilardi 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 Gabriel Vilardi's 1.76. McDavid had 138 points in 82 games; Vilardi had 69 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 Gabriel Vilardi?
- 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 Vilardi done against each other?
- In 18 games against each other in our data, McDavid's team went 12–6. McDavid had 27 points (8 goals) and Vilardi had 7 (3 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, McDavid or Vilardi?
- Against each other, McDavid has won 3 and Vilardi 0 of their 3 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 →