Who to start · 2025-26
Connor McDavid vs Ivar Stenberg
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Connor McDavid projects to 3.68 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivar Stenberg's 1.43 (9 games so far).
McDavid had 138 points in 82 games; Stenberg had 6 in 9 games.
This week McDavid has 3 games left with 1 tough matchup; Stenberg has 3 left with 1 soft and 1 tough matchups. In ESPN default points scoring we project McDavid for 9.3 to Stenberg's 4.2 over the games left.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Connor McDavid rates ahead, +20.7 to -1.1 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: McDavid is rising, 14 P in last 5 (1.85/GP before); Stenberg has no recent trend.
- • 2026-27 so far: 8 GP, 6 G, 17 A, 5 PPP, 18 SOG.
- • Ivar Stenberg is an NHL rookie: this is his first season.
- • 2026-27 so far: 9 GP, 2 G, 4 A, 5 PPP, 12 SOG.
Edmonton Oilers · San Jose Sharks · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Connor McDavid
+20.7
category z-score total
Ivar Stenberg
-1.1
category z-score total
Under Standard (6 categories), Connor McDavid has the edge (McDavid wins 6, Stenberg wins 0 of 6 categories).
| Category | McDavid | Stenberg |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.64 | 0.22 |
| Assists / game | 1.45 | 0.44 |
| Plus/minus / game | 0.96 | -0.78 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.65 | 0.56 |
| Shots on goal / game | 3.22 | 1.33 |
| Hits / game | 0.80 | 0.22 |
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 Stenberg
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2026-27 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
McDavid 0G 1A, 4 SOG · Stenberg 0G 0A, 2 SOG
On the ice against each other (McDavid's side)
11:55 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2026-27, from McDavid's side
- Shot attempts
- 7–9
- 43.8%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.1
- 66.9%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | McDavid | Stenberg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-10 | EDM 3–1 SJS | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
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
9.3proj. ESPN default pts
- Tue, Oct 20 vs MIN3.2 pts
- Thu, Oct 22 vs CAR2.8 pts
- Sat, Oct 24 vs TOR3.3 ptsOpp allows 13th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
Ivar Stenberg
4games (3 left)
4.2proj. ESPN default pts
- Mon, Oct 19 @ TOROpp allows 9th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
- Thu, Oct 22 @ OTT1.5 pts
- Sat, Oct 24 @ BOS1.1 ptsOpp allows 7th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Connor McDavid or Ivar Stenberg in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Connor McDavid projects to 3.68 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivar Stenberg's 1.43 (9 games so far). McDavid had 138 points in 82 games; Stenberg had 6 in 9 games. Check this week's games and your league's scoring in the fantasy panel above, since more games usually decide a weekly start.
- How have McDavid and Stenberg done against each other?
- In 1 games against each other in our data, McDavid's team went 1–0. McDavid had 1 points (0 goals) and Stenberg had 0 (0 goals).
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 →