Who to start · 2025-26
Connor McDavid vs Nikita Nesterenko
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Connor McDavid projects to 3.76 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Nikita Nesterenko's 0.90.
McDavid had 138 points in 82 games; Nesterenko had 9 in 29 games.
This week McDavid has 2 games left with 2 tough matchups; Nesterenko has 2 left. In ESPN default points scoring we project McDavid for 6.1 to Nesterenko's 2.2 over the games left.
Connor McDavid has the better number in 30 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
McDavid's biggest edges: Goals 48, Transition attempts /60 2.12, Shots on goal 306.
Nesterenko's biggest edges: Hardest shot 84.6, Hits 53, On-ice PDO 994.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Connor McDavid rates ahead, +21.0 to -1.0 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: McDavid is rising, 14 P in last 5 (2.00/GP before); Nesterenko is rising, ixG/60 1.98 (was 0.44).
- • McDavid, 2026-27 so far: 9 GP, 6 G, 20 A, 8 PPP, 22 SOG.
- • Nesterenko has played 8 of the Ducks' 9 games since Oct 2 (in and out of the lineup).
- • Nesterenko, 2026-27 so far: 8 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 11 SOG.
Edmonton Oilers · Anaheim Ducks · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Connor McDavid
+21.0
category z-score total
Nikita Nesterenko
-1.0
category z-score total
Under Standard (6 categories), Connor McDavid has the edge (McDavid wins 5, Nesterenko wins 1 of 6 categories).
| Category | McDavid | Nesterenko |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.62 | 0.11 |
| Assists / game | 1.52 | 0.22 |
| Plus/minus / game | 0.84 | 0.04 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.74 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal / game | 3.25 | 1.18 |
| Hits / game | 0.85 | 2.28 |
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 Nesterenko
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2022-23 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
McDavid 2G 3A, 6 SOG · Nesterenko 0G 0A, 4 SOG
On the ice against each other (McDavid's side)
1:06 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2026-27, from McDavid's side
- Shot attempts
- 2–0
- 100.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.0–0.0
- 100.0%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | McDavid | Nesterenko |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-07 | EDM 5–2 ANA | 1G 2A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-04-01 | EDM 6–0 ANA | 1G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 3S |
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
Nikita Nesterenko
4games (2 left)
2.2proj. ESPN default pts
- Mon, Oct 19 @ NYROpp allows 6th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Dylan Garand (.948)
- Tue, Oct 20 @ NYIB2B
- Thu, Oct 22 @ NJD1.1 ptsOpp allows 16th-fewest FP to Cvs Nico Daws (.908)
- Sat, Oct 24 @ PHI1.1 ptsOpp allows 12th-most FP to CLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Connor McDavid or Nikita Nesterenko 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 Nikita Nesterenko's 0.90. McDavid had 138 points in 82 games; Nesterenko had 9 in 29 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 Nikita Nesterenko?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Connor McDavid leads in 30 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 Nesterenko done against each other?
- In 2 games against each other in our data, McDavid's team went 2–0. McDavid had 5 points (2 goals) and Nesterenko had 0 (0 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 →