Who to start · 2025-26
Connor McDavid vs Josh Manson
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Connor McDavid projects to 3.45 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Josh Manson's 1.48.
McDavid had 138 points in 82 games; Manson had 31 in 79 games.
This week McDavid has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Manson has 1 left. We project McDavid for 2.3 ESPN points to Manson's 1.4.
Connor McDavid has the better number in 20 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
McDavid's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +1.05, Power-play time per game 3:35, Ice time per game 22:59.
Manson's biggest edges: Hits 174, Hardest shot 95.4, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.058.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 6 A, 2 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Connor McDavid
3.45
fantasy points per game
Josh Manson
1.48
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Connor McDavid has the edge.
| Points per game from | McDavid | Manson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.15 | 0.12 |
| Assists (+1) | 1.32 | 0.37 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.35 | 0.00 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.35 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.21 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.62 |
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 Manson
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 11G 24A, 80 SOG · Manson 2G 2A, 31 SOG
McDavid blocked 0 of Manson's shots; Manson blocked 1 of McDavid's.
On the ice against each other (McDavid's side)
5:20 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from McDavid's side
- Shot attempts
- 10–7
- 58.8%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.4
- 55.7%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | McDavid | Manson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-10 | EDM 4–3 COL | 1G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-11-08 | EDM 1–9 COL | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-01-16 | EDM 4–3 COL | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-04-05 | EDM 6–2 COL | 2G 0A 9S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-03-16 | EDM 2–3 COL | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-02-19 | EDM 5–6 COL | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-06-06 · PO | EDM 5–6 COL | 1G 2A 5S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-06-04 · PO | EDM 2–4 COL | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-06-02 · PO | EDM 0–4 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2022-05-31 · PO | EDM 6–8 COL | 1G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-04-22 | EDM 6–3 COL | 0G 3A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2022-04-09 | EDM 1–2 COL | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 21 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 4th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 4th-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)
Josh Manson
2games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows 3rd-most FP to DLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL1.4 ptsSchedule edge +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Connor McDavid or Josh Manson 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 Josh Manson's 1.48. McDavid had 138 points in 82 games; Manson had 31 in 79 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 Josh Manson?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Connor McDavid leads in 20 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have McDavid and Manson done against each other?
- In 21 games against each other in our data, McDavid's team went 8–13. McDavid had 35 points (11 goals) and Manson had 4 (2 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 →