Who to start · 2025-26
Connor McDavid vs Ilya Protas
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Connor McDavid projects to 3.76 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ilya Protas's 1.53.
McDavid had 138 points in 82 games; Protas had 4 in 4 games.
This week McDavid has 2 games left with 1 tough matchup; Protas has 1 left. In ESPN default points scoring we project McDavid for 6.1 to Protas's 1.3 over the games left.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Connor McDavid rates ahead, +21.0 to +1.8 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: McDavid is rising, 14 P in last 5 (2.00/GP before); Protas is rising, ixG/60 1.58 (was 0.52).
- • 2026-27 so far: 9 GP, 6 G, 20 A, 8 PPP, 22 SOG.
- • Ilya Protas is a rookie: 4 NHL games before this season.
- • 2026-27 so far: 9 GP, 1 G, 4 A, 1 PPP, 8 SOG.
Edmonton Oilers · Washington Capitals · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Connor McDavid
+21.0
category z-score total
Ilya Protas
+1.8
category z-score total
Under Standard (6 categories), Connor McDavid has the edge (McDavid wins 6, Protas wins 0 of 6 categories).
| Category | McDavid | Protas |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.62 | 0.20 |
| Assists / game | 1.52 | 0.64 |
| Plus/minus / game | 0.84 | 0.11 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.74 | 0.20 |
| Shots on goal / game | 3.25 | 1.43 |
| Hits / game | 0.85 | 0.17 |
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
Connor McDavid and Ilya Protas have no head-to-head events in our data yet (regular season and playoffs since 2019-20).
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
Oct 19 to Oct 25. 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
Connor McDavid
3games (2 left)
6.1proj. ESPN default pts
- Tue, Oct 20 vs MINOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jesper Wallstedt (.916)
- Thu, Oct 22 vs CAR2.8 pts
- Sat, Oct 24 vs TOR3.3 ptsOpp allows 13th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
Ilya Protas
2games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN default pts
- Tue, Oct 20 vs LAKOpp allows 2nd-most FP to LWLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 24 vs BUF1.3 ptsOpp allows 11th-most FP to LWLikely vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.910)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Connor McDavid or Ilya Protas in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Connor McDavid projects to 3.76 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ilya Protas's 1.53. McDavid had 138 points in 82 games; Protas had 4 in 4 games. Check this week's games and your league's scoring in the fantasy panel above, since more games usually decide a weekly start.
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 →