Who to start · 2025-26
Connor McDavid vs Sam Bennett
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Connor McDavid projects to 3.45 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Bennett's 1.74.
McDavid had 138 points in 82 games; Bennett had 58 in 76 games.
This week McDavid has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Bennett has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project McDavid for 2.3 ESPN points to Bennett's 1.9.
Connor McDavid has the better number in 28 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
McDavid's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +1.05, Ascension score 62, Plus/minus +17.
Bennett's biggest edges: Hardest shot 92.9, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.018, Hits 115.
Head to head on the dot, McDavid leads Bennett 34–34.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 6 A, 2 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Connor McDavid
3.45
fantasy points per game
Sam Bennett
1.74
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Connor McDavid has the edge.
| Points per game from | McDavid | Bennett |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.15 | 0.60 |
| Assists (+1) | 1.32 | 0.43 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.35 | 0.09 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.35 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.19 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.19 |
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 Bennett
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 23G 33A, 137 SOG · Bennett 14G 16A, 93 SOG
McDavid's offensive zone 9–8 · neutral 15–13 · McDavid's defensive zone 10–13 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
McDavid blocked 1 of Bennett's shots; Bennett blocked 0 of McDavid's.
On the ice against each other (McDavid's side)
10:37 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from McDavid's side
- Shot attempts
- 13–10
- 56.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.7–0.4
- 64.7%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | McDavid | Bennett |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-19 | EDM 0–4 FLA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2025-11-22 | EDM 6–3 FLA | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-06-17 · PO | EDM 1–5 FLA | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-06-14 · PO | EDM 2–5 FLA | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-06-12 · PO | EDM 5–4 FLA | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-06-09 · PO | EDM 1–6 FLA | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-06-06 · PO | EDM 4–5 FLA | 0G 3A 7S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-06-04 · PO | EDM 4–3 FLA | 0G 2A 4S | 2G 0A 5S |
| 2025-02-27 | EDM 3–4 FLA | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2024-12-16 | EDM 5–6 FLA | 0G 3A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-06-24 · PO | EDM 1–2 FLA | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-06-21 · PO | EDM 5–1 FLA | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
Latest 12 of 42 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 C
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 6th-most FP to C
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA2.3 ptsOpp allows 6th-fewest FP to C
Sam Bennett
3games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ CAROpp allows 13th-fewest FP to C
- Thu, Oct 1 @ SJSOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −1.0 win%
- Sun, Oct 4 @ ANA1.9 ptsOpp allows 9th-most FP to C
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Connor McDavid or Sam Bennett 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 Sam Bennett's 1.74. McDavid had 138 points in 82 games; Bennett had 58 in 76 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 Sam Bennett?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Connor McDavid leads in 28 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 Bennett done against each other?
- In 42 games against each other in our data, McDavid's team went 18–24. McDavid had 56 points (23 goals) and Bennett had 30 (14 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, McDavid or Bennett?
- Against each other, McDavid has won 34 and Bennett 34 of their 68 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 →