Who to start · 2025-26
Connor McDavid vs Quinton Byfield
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Connor McDavid projects to 3.45 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Quinton Byfield's 1.57.
McDavid had 138 points in 82 games; Byfield had 49 in 79 games.
This week McDavid has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Byfield has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project McDavid for 2.3 ESPN points to Byfield's 1.4.
Connor McDavid has the better number in 29 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
McDavid's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 65.6%, Forecheck xG /60 0.36, Offensive-zone time 47.7%.
Byfield's biggest edges: Hardest shot 88.9, Blocked shots 44, Hits 66.
Head to head on the dot, McDavid leads Byfield 20–14.
- • 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, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Connor McDavid
3.45
fantasy points per game
Quinton Byfield
1.57
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Connor McDavid has the edge.
| Points per game from | McDavid | Byfield |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.15 | 0.57 |
| Assists (+1) | 1.32 | 0.30 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.35 | 0.07 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.35 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.32 |
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 Byfield
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
McDavid 17G 41A, 118 SOG · Byfield 9G 14A, 65 SOG
McDavid's offensive zone 5–4 · neutral 9–5 · McDavid's defensive zone 6–5 (2021-22 to 2025-26)
McDavid blocked 1 of Byfield's shots; Byfield blocked 0 of McDavid's.
On the ice against each other (McDavid's side)
32:29 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from McDavid's side
- Shot attempts
- 31–24
- 56.4%
- Expected goals
- 1.3–0.5
- 72.2%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | McDavid | Byfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-11 | EDM 0–1 LAK | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-02-26 | EDM 8–1 LAK | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-01-10 | EDM 3–4 LAK | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-05-01 · PO | EDM 6–4 LAK | 0G 1A 5S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-04-29 · PO | EDM 3–1 LAK | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-04-27 · PO | EDM 4–3 LAK | 0G 2A 7S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2025-04-25 · PO | EDM 7–4 LAK | 1G 2A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-04-23 · PO | EDM 2–6 LAK | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-04-21 · PO | EDM 5–6 LAK | 1G 3A 3S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2025-01-13 | EDM 1–0 LAK | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-12-28 | EDM 3–4 LAK | 0G 1A 0S | 2G 1A 5S |
| 2024-05-01 · PO | EDM 4–3 LAK | 0G 2A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
Latest 12 of 34 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)
Quinton Byfield
2games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ COLOpp allows 10th-most FP to RWLikely vs Mackenzie Blackwood (.903)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ SJS1.4 ptsOpp allows 7th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge −3.2 win%Likely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Connor McDavid or Quinton Byfield 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 Quinton Byfield's 1.57. McDavid had 138 points in 82 games; Byfield had 49 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 Quinton Byfield?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Connor McDavid leads in 29 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 Byfield done against each other?
- In 34 games against each other in our data, McDavid's team went 23–11. McDavid had 58 points (17 goals) and Byfield had 23 (9 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, McDavid or Byfield?
- Against each other, McDavid has won 20 and Byfield 14 of their 34 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 →