Who to start · 2025-26
Connor McDavid vs Nathan MacKinnon
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Connor McDavid projects to 3.45 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Nathan MacKinnon's 3.32.
McDavid had 138 points in 82 games; MacKinnon had 127 in 80 games.
This week McDavid has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; MacKinnon has 1 left. We project MacKinnon for 2.8 ESPN points to McDavid's 2.3.
Nathan MacKinnon has the better number in 20 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
McDavid's biggest edges: Ascension score 62, Net penalties drawn /60 +1.05, Shorthanded points 2.
MacKinnon's biggest edges: Hardest shot 91.0, Goals above expected +3.0, On-ice PDO 1054.
Head to head on the dot, McDavid leads MacKinnon 82–57.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 6 A, 2 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 8 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Connor McDavid
3.45
fantasy points per game
Nathan MacKinnon
3.32
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Connor McDavid has the edge.
| Points per game from | McDavid | MacKinnon |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.15 | 1.49 |
| Assists (+1) | 1.32 | 0.87 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.35 | 0.21 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.35 | 0.46 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.09 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.21 |
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 MacKinnon
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 17G 19A, 105 SOG · MacKinnon 15G 19A, 139 SOG
McDavid's offensive zone 12–11 · neutral 55–29 · McDavid's defensive zone 15–17 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
McDavid blocked 2 of MacKinnon's shots; MacKinnon blocked 1 of McDavid's.
On the ice against each other (McDavid's side)
24:49 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from McDavid's side
- Shot attempts
- 27–30
- 47.4%
- Expected goals
- 0.8–1.9
- 30.2%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | McDavid | MacKinnon |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-13 | EDM 1–2 COL | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-03-10 | EDM 4–3 COL | 1G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-11-08 | EDM 1–9 COL | 1G 0A 4S | 2G 2A 6S |
| 2025-02-07 | EDM 4–5 COL | 0G 0A 5S | 1G 3A 7S |
| 2025-01-16 | EDM 4–3 COL | 1G 1A 2S | 2G 0A 3S |
| 2024-11-30 | EDM 4–1 COL | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 7S |
| 2024-04-05 | EDM 6–2 COL | 2G 0A 9S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2024-03-16 | EDM 2–3 COL | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 6S |
| 2023-04-11 | EDM 2–1 COL | 0G 1A 7S | 0G 0A 7S |
| 2023-02-19 | EDM 5–6 COL | 0G 1A 4S | 1G 2A 9S |
| 2023-01-07 | EDM 2–3 COL | 0G 1A 4S | 1G 1A 11S |
| 2022-06-06 · PO | EDM 5–6 COL | 1G 2A 5S | 1G 0A 7S |
Latest 12 of 25 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)
Nathan MacKinnon
2games (1 left)
2.8proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows the most FP to CLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL2.8 ptsSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Connor McDavid or Nathan MacKinnon 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 Nathan MacKinnon's 3.32. McDavid had 138 points in 82 games; MacKinnon had 127 in 80 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 Nathan MacKinnon?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nathan MacKinnon leads in 20 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 MacKinnon done against each other?
- In 25 games against each other in our data, McDavid's team went 10–15. McDavid had 36 points (17 goals) and MacKinnon had 34 (15 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, McDavid or MacKinnon?
- Against each other, McDavid has won 82 and MacKinnon 57 of their 139 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 →