Who to start · 2025-26
Connor McDavid vs James van Riemsdyk
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Connor McDavid projects to 3.45 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to James van Riemsdyk's 1.07.
McDavid had 138 points in 82 games; van Riemsdyk had 31 in 72 games.
This week McDavid has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; van Riemsdyk has 1 left. We project McDavid for 2.3 ESPN points to van Riemsdyk's 1.3.
Connor McDavid has the better number in 31 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
McDavid's biggest edges: Plus/minus +17, Top skating speed 24.6, 20+ mph bursts 681.
van Riemsdyk's biggest edges: Hardest shot 90.8, On-ice PDO 999.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 6 A, 2 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Connor McDavid
3.21
fantasy points per game
James van Riemsdyk
1.07
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Connor McDavid has the edge.
| Points per game from | McDavid | van Riemsdyk |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.17 | 0.42 |
| Assists (+1) | 1.10 | 0.22 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.33 | 0.08 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.37 | 0.14 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.02 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.18 | 0.19 |
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 van Riemsdyk
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
McDavid 9G 14A, 58 SOG · van Riemsdyk 0G 3A, 33 SOG
Games against each other
| Date | Score | McDavid | van Riemsdyk |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-10-19 | EDM 2–4 DET | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-10-28 | EDM 1–6 CBJ | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-03-05 | EDM 2–1 BOS | 0G 2A 7S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-02-21 | EDM 5–6 BOS | 0G 2A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-02-21 | EDM 4–2 PHI | 2G 1A 9S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-02-09 | EDM 1–2 PHI | 0G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2022-03-01 | EDM 3–0 PHI | 1G 1A 7S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2021-10-27 | EDM 3–5 PHI | 1G 1A 9S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2019-10-16 | EDM 6–3 PHI | 1G 4A 1S | 0G 0A 9S |
| 2019-02-02 | EDM 4–5 PHI | 1G 1A 5S | 0G 2A 4S |
| 2018-12-14 | EDM 4–1 PHI | 2G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2017-12-10 | EDM 0–1 TOR | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
Latest 12 of 13 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)
James van Riemsdyk
2games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs NYROpp allows 7th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Dylan Garand (.948)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs WPG1.3 ptsOpp allows 14th-most FP to LWLikely vs Stuart Skinner (.888)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Connor McDavid or James van Riemsdyk 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 James van Riemsdyk's 1.07. McDavid had 138 points in 82 games; van Riemsdyk had 31 in 72 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 James van Riemsdyk?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Connor McDavid leads in 31 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have McDavid and van Riemsdyk done against each other?
- In 13 games against each other in our data, McDavid's team went 5–8. McDavid had 23 points (9 goals) and van Riemsdyk had 3 (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 →