Who to start · 2026-27
Connor McDavid vs Reid Schaefer
In 2026-27, Connor McDavid scored 4.06 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Reid Schaefer's 0.79.
McDavid had 50 points in 21 games; Schaefer had 2 in 13 games.
This week McDavid has 1 game left; Schaefer has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. In ESPN default points scoring we project McDavid for 3.7 to Schaefer's 1.0 over the games left.
They split the 2 stats both are ranked on 1–1.
McDavid's biggest edges: Luck Meter +78.
Schaefer's biggest edges: Ascension score 72.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Connor McDavid rates ahead, +16.2 to -3.5 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: McDavid is cooling, 10 P in last 5 (2.50/GP before); Schaefer is steady, On-ice xGF/60 2.12 (was 1.48).
- • McDavid, last 10 games (Oct 26–Nov 14): 3 G, 14 A, 8 PPP, 30 SOG.
- • Schaefer has played 10 of the Predators' 14 games since Oct 15 (in and out of the lineup).
- • Schaefer, last 10 games (Oct 15–Nov 13): 1 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 8 SOG.
Edmonton Oilers · Nashville Predators · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Under Standard (6 categories), Connor McDavid has the edge (McDavid wins 5, Schaefer wins 1 of 6 categories).
| Category | McDavid | Schaefer |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.52 | 0.08 |
| Assists / game | 1.86 | 0.08 |
| Plus/minus / game | 1.24 | 0.08 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.95 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal / game | 2.76 | 0.92 |
| Hits / game | 0.90 | 2.00 |
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 Schaefer
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2025-26 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
McDavid 3G 5A, 15 SOG · Schaefer 0G 1A, 3 SOG
On the ice against each other (McDavid's side)
9:53 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from McDavid's side
- Shot attempts
- 11–13
- 45.8%
- Expected goals
- 1.0–0.5
- 65.4%
- Goals
- 2–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | McDavid | Schaefer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-15 | EDM 3–1 NSH | 0G 3A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2026-01-13 | EDM 3–4 NSH | 0G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-01-06 | EDM 6–2 NSH | 3G 0A 10S | 0G 1A 2S |
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
Nov 9 to Nov 15. 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
4games (1 left)
3.7proj. ESPN default pts
- Mon, Nov 9 vs NYROpp allows 7th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Dylan Garand (.910)
- Wed, Nov 11 vs PHIOpp allows 16th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Dan Vladar (.879)
- Sat, Nov 14 @ TOROpp allows 16th-most FP to CLikely vs Anthony Stolarz (.905)
- Opp allows 16th-fewest FP to Cvs Dan Vladar (.879)
Reid Schaefer
4games (1 left)
1.0proj. ESPN default pts
Player data stories
How the game changed, told through the numbers.
- In 2022-23, Four NHL Players Wore a Number in the 90s for Every One in No. 9 The count was 53 to 13, and the incomplete 2025-26 rosters show the same split, 51 to 12.
- The 1,000-Game Club Had Its Biggest Year. Getting In Is No Easier. Seventeen players reached 1,000 NHL games in 2025-26, more than in any season before, in the biggest league the NHL has had.
- Only 14 NHL Defencemen Still Score Like Ken Daneyko A stay-at-home defenceman stays back to defend and leaves the scoring to others.
- How Much Lighter Did the NHL Really Get? Teams write down NHL weights.
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Connor McDavid or Reid Schaefer in fantasy hockey?
- In 2026-27, Connor McDavid scored 4.06 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Reid Schaefer's 0.79. McDavid had 50 points in 21 games; Schaefer had 2 in 13 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 Reid Schaefer?
- On 2026-27 numbers they split 1–1 across 2 stats where both qualify.
- How have McDavid and Schaefer done against each other?
- In 3 games against each other in our data, McDavid's team went 2–1. McDavid had 8 points (3 goals) and Schaefer had 1 (0 goals).
2026-27 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 →