Who to start · 2025-26
Connor McDavid vs Jason Zucker
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Connor McDavid projects to 3.45 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Jason Zucker's 1.71.
McDavid had 138 points in 82 games; Zucker had 45 in 62 games.
This week McDavid has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Zucker has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project McDavid for 2.3 ESPN points to Zucker's 1.5.
Connor McDavid has the better number in 30 of the 35 stats both are ranked on.
McDavid's biggest edges: Top skating speed 24.6, 20+ mph bursts 681, Plus/minus +17.
Zucker's biggest edges: On-ice PDO 1024, Goals above expected +3.8, Luck Meter +38.
- • 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
Jason Zucker
1.71
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Connor McDavid has the edge.
| Points per game from | McDavid | Zucker |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.17 | 0.77 |
| Assists (+1) | 1.10 | 0.34 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.33 | 0.13 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.37 | 0.21 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.09 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.18 | 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 custom weights are saved in this browser only.
Head-to-head: McDavid vs Zucker
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2024-25: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
McDavid 9G 19A, 40 SOG · Zucker 1G 4A, 30 SOG
McDavid's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 0–0 · McDavid's defensive zone 1–0 (2024-25)
McDavid blocked 0 of Zucker's shots; Zucker blocked 1 of McDavid's.
Games against each other
| Date | Score | McDavid | Zucker |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-03-10 | EDM 2–3 BUF | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-02-19 | EDM 6–3 ARI | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-02-23 | EDM 7–2 PIT | 2G 2A 7S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-10-24 | EDM 6–3 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2022-04-26 | EDM 5–1 PIT | 1G 3A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2021-12-01 | EDM 5–2 PIT | 1G 3A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2019-12-12 | EDM 5–6 MIN | 1G 1A 1S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2019-10-22 | EDM 0–3 MIN | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2019-02-07 | EDM 4–1 MIN | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2018-12-07 | EDM 7–2 MIN | 1G 3A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2018-10-30 | EDM 3–4 MIN | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2018-04-02 | EDM 0–3 MIN | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
Latest 12 of 14 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)
Jason Zucker
2games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ CBJOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CHI1.5 ptsOpp allows 2nd-most FP to LWLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Connor McDavid or Jason Zucker 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 Jason Zucker's 1.71. McDavid had 138 points in 82 games; Zucker had 45 in 62 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 Jason Zucker?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Connor McDavid leads in 30 of 35 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have McDavid and Zucker done against each other?
- In 14 games against each other in our data, McDavid's team went 9–5. McDavid had 28 points (9 goals) and Zucker had 5 (1 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, McDavid or Zucker?
- Against each other, McDavid has won 1 and Zucker 0 of their 1 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 →