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Who to start · 2025-26

Connor McDavid vs John Tavares

Connor McDavidConnor McDavidOilers · CentrevsJohn TavaresJohn TavaresMaple Leafs · Centre

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Connor McDavid projects to 3.45 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to John Tavares's 1.80.

McDavid had 138 points in 82 games; Tavares had 71 in 82 games.

This week McDavid has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Tavares has 1 left. We project McDavid for 2.3 ESPN points to Tavares's 1.7.

Connor McDavid has the better number in 29 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.

McDavid's biggest edges: Plus/minus +17, Transition attempts /60 2.12, High-danger chances 57.5%.

Tavares's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.027, Hardest shot 88.5, Faceoff win % 57.5%.

Head to head on the dot, McDavid leads Tavares 59–54.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 6 A, 2 PPP, 3 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Connor McDavid

3.45

fantasy points per game

John Tavares

1.80

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Connor McDavid has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromMcDavidTavares
Goals (+2)1.150.67
Assists (+1)1.320.49
Power-play points (+0.5)0.350.11
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.010.00
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.350.24
Hits (+0.1)0.050.09
Blocks (+0.5)0.220.22

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 custom weights are saved in this browser only.

Head-to-head: McDavid vs Tavares

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.

McDavidTavares
9Team record in 24 meetings15
34Points in those games23

McDavid 12G 22A, 83 SOG · Tavares 8G 15A, 72 SOG

59Faceoffs against each other54

McDavid's offensive zone 24–20 · neutral 24–19 · McDavid's defensive zone 11–15 (2017-18 to 2025-26)

2Hits on each other1
2Shots blocked by the other0

McDavid blocked 2 of Tavares's shots; Tavares blocked 0 of McDavid's.

0Penalties drawn off the other1

On the ice against each other (McDavid's side)

6:39 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from McDavid's side

Shot attempts
12–5
70.6%
Expected goals
0.6–0.2
71.8%
Goals
1–0

Games against each other

Games between Connor McDavid and John Tavares
DateScoreMcDavidTavares
2026-02-03EDM 2–5 TOR0G 0A 4S1G 0A 2S
2025-12-13EDM 6–3 TOR2G 1A 2S0G 0A 2S
2025-02-01EDM 3–4 TOR0G 0A 9S0G 1A 0S
2024-11-16EDM 3–4 TOR1G 1A 4S0G 1A 1S
2024-03-23EDM 3–6 TOR0G 3A 1S0G 2A 2S
2024-01-16EDM 4–2 TOR0G 1A 5S0G 0A 5S
2023-03-11EDM 4–7 TOR1G 2A 3S2G 1A 4S
2023-03-01EDM 5–2 TOR2G 1A 3S0G 0A 2S
2021-12-14EDM 1–5 TOR0G 0A 2S0G 1A 0S
2021-03-29EDM 3–2 TOR0G 1A 2S0G 0A 4S
2021-03-27EDM 3–4 TOR0G 2A 1S1G 0A 4S
2021-03-03EDM 1–6 TOR0G 0A 1S1G 1A 3S

Latest 12 of 24 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.

McDavidTavares

Fantasy box score

Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

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 VAN
    Opp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
  • Thu, Oct 1 @ VAN
    Opp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA2.3 pts
    Opp allows 6th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)

John Tavares

3games (1 left)

1.7proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 vs MTL
    Opp allows 14th-most FP to CLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
  • Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2B
    Opp allows 15th-most FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT1.7 pts
    Likely vs Linus Ullmark (.891)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Connor McDavid or John Tavares 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 John Tavares's 1.80. McDavid had 138 points in 82 games; Tavares had 71 in 82 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 John Tavares?
On 2025-26 numbers, Connor McDavid leads in 29 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 Tavares done against each other?
In 24 games against each other in our data, McDavid's team went 9–15. McDavid had 34 points (12 goals) and Tavares had 23 (8 goals).
Who wins more faceoffs, McDavid or Tavares?
Against each other, McDavid has won 59 and Tavares 54 of their 113 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 →