Who to start · 2025-26
Connor McDavid vs Jack Hughes
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Connor McDavid projects to 3.45 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Jack Hughes's 2.55.
McDavid had 138 points in 82 games; Hughes had 77 in 61 games.
This week McDavid has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Hughes has 1 left. We project McDavid for 2.3 ESPN points to Hughes's 2.3.
Connor McDavid has the better number in 28 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
McDavid's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 44, Draw Equity /100 +0.000, Faceoff win % 49.5%.
Hughes's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 −0.016, Offensive-zone start % 79.3%, Hardest shot 83.7.
Head to head on the dot, McDavid leads Hughes 14–1.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 6 A, 2 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Connor McDavid
3.45
fantasy points per game
Jack Hughes
2.55
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Connor McDavid has the edge.
| Points per game from | McDavid | Hughes |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.15 | 0.95 |
| Assists (+1) | 1.32 | 0.77 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.35 | 0.18 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.02 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.35 | 0.38 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.01 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.25 |
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 Hughes
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 7G 10A, 33 SOG · Hughes 4G 4A, 31 SOG
McDavid's offensive zone 2–0 · neutral 7–0 · McDavid's defensive zone 5–1 (2019-20 to 2025-26)
McDavid blocked 0 of Hughes's shots; Hughes blocked 1 of McDavid's.
On the ice against each other (McDavid's side)
12:02 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from McDavid's side
- Shot attempts
- 14–8
- 63.6%
- Expected goals
- 0.8–0.4
- 67.7%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | McDavid | Hughes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-20 | EDM 1–2 NJD | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-10-18 | EDM 3–5 NJD | 0G 2A 2S | 2G 1A 4S |
| 2023-12-21 | EDM 6–3 NJD | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-12-10 | EDM 4–1 NJD | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2022-11-21 | EDM 2–5 NJD | 0G 1A 5S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2022-11-03 | EDM 3–4 NJD | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-03-19 | EDM 6–3 NJD | 1G 2A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2021-12-31 | EDM 5–6 NJD | 2G 0A 3S | 2G 1A 7S |
| 2019-11-08 | EDM 4–0 NJD | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2019-10-10 | EDM 4–3 NJD | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 4S |
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)
Jack Hughes
2games (1 left)
2.3proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs PHIOpp allows 7th-most FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Joseph Woll (.899)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NYI2.3 ptsOpp allows 15th-most FP to CSchedule edge −4.0 win%vs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Connor McDavid or Jack Hughes 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 Jack Hughes's 2.55. McDavid had 138 points in 82 games; Hughes had 77 in 61 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 Jack Hughes?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Connor McDavid leads in 28 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 Hughes done against each other?
- In 10 games against each other in our data, McDavid's team went 5–5. McDavid had 17 points (7 goals) and Hughes had 8 (4 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, McDavid or Hughes?
- Against each other, McDavid has won 14 and Hughes 1 of their 15 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 →