Edgehalla

Who to start · 2025-26

Connor McDavid vs Konsta Helenius

Connor McDavidOilers · Centre
vs
Konsta HeleniusSabres · Centre
Rising14 P in last 5 (2.00/GP before)
SteadyOn-ice xGF/60 2.19 (was 2.99)

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Connor McDavid projects to 3.76 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Konsta Helenius's 0.89.

McDavid had 138 points in 82 games; Helenius had 4 in 9 games.

This week McDavid has 2 games left with 2 tough matchups; Helenius has 2 left with 1 soft and 1 tough matchups. In ESPN default points scoring we project McDavid for 6.1 to Helenius's 1.8 over the games left.

Connor McDavid has the better number in 2 of the 2 stats both are ranked on.

McDavid's biggest edges: Ascension score 80, Luck Meter +14.

In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Connor McDavid rates ahead, +21.0 to -2.3 in summed category z-scores.

Role trend over the last 5 games: McDavid is rising, 14 P in last 5 (2.00/GP before); Helenius is steady, On-ice xGF/60 2.19 (was 2.99).

  • • 2026-27 so far: 9 GP, 6 G, 20 A, 8 PPP, 22 SOG.
  • • Konsta Helenius is a rookie: 13 NHL games before this season.
  • • Helenius has played 8 of the Sabres' 9 games since Oct 1 (in and out of the lineup).
  • • 2026-27 so far: 8 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 11 SOG.

Edmonton Oilers · Buffalo Sabres · Who should I start? · Compare other players

Fantasy value: your scoring

Connor McDavid

+21.0

category z-score total

Konsta Helenius

-2.3

category z-score total

Under Standard (6 categories), Connor McDavid has the edge (McDavid wins 5, Helenius wins 1 of 6 categories).

Per-stat breakdown under Standard (6 categories)
CategoryMcDavidHelenius
Goals / game0.620.12
Assists / game1.520.26
Plus/minus / game0.84-0.10
Power-play points / game0.740.00
Shots on goal / game3.251.57
Hits / game0.851.07

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 scoring choice is shared with Who Should I Start: saved on this device, and on your account when you are signed in.

Head-to-head

Connor McDavid and Konsta Helenius have no head-to-head events in our data yet (regular season and playoffs since 2019-20).

Every stat, side by side

Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.

McDavidHelenius

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

Oct 19 to Oct 25. 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 cover the games left: Edgehalla's rest-of-season rates per game, adjusted for each opponent's scoring allowed, in ESPN default points.

Scored in ESPN default points (G 2, A 1, PPP 0.5, SHP 0.5, SOG 0.1, HIT 0.1, BLK 0.5). Use your league's scoring

Connor McDavid

3games (2 left)

6.1proj. ESPN default pts

  • Tue, Oct 20 vs MIN
    Opp allows 14th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jesper Wallstedt (.916)
  • Thu, Oct 22 vs CAR2.9 pts
    Opp allows 2nd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −3.0 win%Likely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
  • Sat, Oct 24 vs TOR3.2 pts
    Opp allows 10th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)

Konsta Helenius

2games

1.8proj. ESPN default pts

  • Wed, Oct 21 vs PHI1.0 pts
    Opp allows 10th-most FP to CSchedule edge +4.1 win%vs Dan Vladar (.906)
  • Sat, Oct 24 @ WSH0.8 pts
    Opp allows 7th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Logan Thompson (.912)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Connor McDavid or Konsta Helenius in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Connor McDavid projects to 3.76 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Konsta Helenius's 0.89. McDavid had 138 points in 82 games; Helenius had 4 in 9 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 Konsta Helenius?
On 2025-26 numbers, Connor McDavid leads in 2 of 2 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.

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 →