Who to start · 2025-26
Connor McDavid vs Mikko Rantanen
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Connor McDavid projects to 3.45 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mikko Rantanen's 2.21.
McDavid had 138 points in 82 games; Rantanen had 77 in 64 games.
This week McDavid has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Rantanen has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project McDavid for 2.3 ESPN points to Rantanen's 1.6.
Connor McDavid has the better number in 26 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
McDavid's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +1.05, Corsi 54.2%, Fenwick 54.3%.
Rantanen's biggest edges: On-ice PDO 1046, Hardest shot 87.1, Luck Meter +45.
Head to head on the dot, McDavid leads Rantanen 9–6.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 6 A, 2 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Connor McDavid
3.45
fantasy points per game
Mikko Rantanen
2.21
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Connor McDavid has the edge.
| Points per game from | McDavid | Rantanen |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.15 | 0.64 |
| Assists (+1) | 1.32 | 0.81 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.35 | 0.25 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.35 | 0.21 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.22 |
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 Rantanen
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 18G 21A, 106 SOG · Rantanen 12G 15A, 79 SOG
McDavid's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 2–1 · McDavid's defensive zone 7–5 (2021-22 to 2024-25)
McDavid blocked 1 of Rantanen's shots; Rantanen blocked 0 of McDavid's.
On the ice against each other (McDavid's side)
4:31 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from McDavid's side
- Shot attempts
- 5–12
- 29.4%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.9
- 20.9%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | McDavid | Rantanen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-04 | EDM 3–4 DAL | 1G 1A 3S | 2G 1A 4S |
| 2025-05-29 · PO | EDM 6–3 DAL | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-05-27 · PO | EDM 4–1 DAL | 0G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-05-25 · PO | EDM 6–1 DAL | 2G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-05-23 · PO | EDM 3–0 DAL | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-05-21 · PO | EDM 3–6 DAL | 0G 2A 4S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-03-08 | EDM 5–4 DAL | 1G 1A 4S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2025-03-01 | EDM 3–1 CAR | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-01-16 | EDM 4–3 COL | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-11-30 | EDM 4–1 COL | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-04-05 | EDM 6–2 COL | 2G 0A 9S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-03-16 | EDM 2–3 COL | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 3S |
Latest 12 of 26 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)
Mikko Rantanen
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs STLOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Joel Hofer (.910)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NSHB2B1.6 ptsOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge −12.9 win%Likely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Connor McDavid or Mikko Rantanen 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 Mikko Rantanen's 2.21. McDavid had 138 points in 82 games; Rantanen had 77 in 64 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 Mikko Rantanen?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Connor McDavid leads in 26 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 Rantanen done against each other?
- In 26 games against each other in our data, McDavid's team went 13–13. McDavid had 39 points (18 goals) and Rantanen had 27 (12 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, McDavid or Rantanen?
- Against each other, McDavid has won 9 and Rantanen 6 of their 15 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 →