Who to start · 2025-26
Connor McDavid vs Linus Karlsson
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Connor McDavid projects to 3.76 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Linus Karlsson's 1.18.
McDavid had 138 points in 82 games; Karlsson had 35 in 79 games.
This week McDavid has 2 games left with 2 tough matchups; Karlsson has 2 left. In ESPN default points scoring we project McDavid for 6.1 to Karlsson's 2.3 over the games left.
Connor McDavid has the better number in 31 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
McDavid's biggest edges: Plus/minus +17, Transition attempts /60 2.12, 20+ mph bursts 681.
Karlsson's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.019, Hits 83, Hardest shot 83.7.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Connor McDavid rates ahead, +21.0 to -1.6 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: McDavid is rising, 14 P in last 5 (2.00/GP before); Karlsson is steady, ixG/60 1.24 (was 0.62).
- • McDavid, 2026-27 so far: 9 GP, 6 G, 20 A, 8 PPP, 22 SOG.
- • Karlsson, 2026-27 so far: 11 GP, 3 G, 5 A, 1 PPP, 21 SOG.
- • Karlsson, last 10 games (Oct 1–Oct 20): 3 G, 4 A, 1 PPP, 19 SOG.
Edmonton Oilers · Vancouver Canucks · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Connor McDavid
+21.0
category z-score total
Linus Karlsson
-1.6
category z-score total
Under Standard (6 categories), Connor McDavid has the edge (McDavid wins 6, Karlsson wins 0 of 6 categories).
| Category | McDavid | Karlsson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.62 | 0.22 |
| Assists / game | 1.52 | 0.34 |
| Plus/minus / game | 0.84 | -0.24 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.74 | 0.07 |
| Shots on goal / game | 3.25 | 1.65 |
| Hits / game | 0.85 | 0.72 |
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: McDavid vs Karlsson
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2023-24 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
McDavid 1G 13A, 18 SOG · Karlsson 0G 1A, 10 SOG
McDavid's offensive zone 1–0 · neutral 0–1 · McDavid's defensive zone 0–0 (2026-27)
On the ice against each other (McDavid's side)
26:00 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27, from McDavid's side
- Shot attempts
- 32–16
- 66.7%
- Expected goals
- 1.4–1.1
- 56.4%
- Goals
- 7–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | McDavid | Karlsson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-01 | EDM 9–7 VAN | 1G 4A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-09-29 | EDM 5–6 VAN | 0G 2A 0S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2026-04-16 | EDM 6–1 VAN | 0G 4A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-01-17 | EDM 6–0 VAN | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2025-10-26 | EDM 3–4 VAN | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-05-14 · PO | EDM 3–2 VAN | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-05-12 · PO | EDM 3–4 VAN | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
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, Luck & trend, NHL EDGE tracking continue below
Every stat, side by side (continued)
Transition, turnovers & faceoffs
Usage
Special teams & discipline
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 MINOpp allows 14th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jesper Wallstedt (.916)
- Thu, Oct 22 vs CAR2.9 ptsOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to Cvs Brandon Bussi (.895)
- Sat, Oct 24 vs TOR3.2 pts
Linus Karlsson
3games (2 left)
2.3proj. ESPN default pts
- Tue, Oct 20 vs CAROpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to CLikely vs Pyotr Kochetkov (.899)
- Thu, Oct 22 vs DET1.1 ptsOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to CLikely vs John Gibson (.901)
- Sun, Oct 25 vs MIN1.2 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Connor McDavid or Linus Karlsson 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 Linus Karlsson's 1.18. McDavid had 138 points in 82 games; Karlsson had 35 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 Linus Karlsson?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Connor McDavid leads in 31 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 Karlsson done against each other?
- In 7 games against each other in our data, McDavid's team went 4–3. McDavid had 14 points (1 goals) and Karlsson had 1 (0 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, McDavid or Karlsson?
- Against each other, McDavid has won 1 and Karlsson 1 of their 2 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 →