Who to start · 2025-26
Connor McDavid vs Steven Stamkos
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Connor McDavid projects to 3.45 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Steven Stamkos's 2.00.
McDavid had 138 points in 82 games; Stamkos had 66 in 82 games.
This week McDavid has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Stamkos has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project McDavid for 2.3 ESPN points to Stamkos's 2.0.
Connor McDavid has the better number in 25 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
McDavid's biggest edges: Plus/minus +17, Net penalties drawn /60 +1.05, Transition attempts /60 2.12.
Stamkos's biggest edges: Hardest shot 95.0, Faceoff win % 57.7%, Draw Equity /100 +0.085.
Head to head on the dot, Stamkos leads McDavid 19–11.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 6 A, 2 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Connor McDavid
3.45
fantasy points per game
Steven Stamkos
2.00
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Connor McDavid has the edge.
| Points per game from | McDavid | Stamkos |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.15 | 0.96 |
| Assists (+1) | 1.32 | 0.34 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.35 | 0.15 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.35 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.11 |
| 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 Stamkos
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 16G 13A, 83 SOG · Stamkos 11G 5A, 54 SOG
McDavid's offensive zone 4–4 · neutral 3–7 · McDavid's defensive zone 4–8 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (McDavid's side)
13:28 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from McDavid's side
- Shot attempts
- 19–10
- 65.5%
- Expected goals
- 1.2–0.3
- 79.0%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | McDavid | Stamkos |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-15 | EDM 3–1 NSH | 0G 3A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2026-01-13 | EDM 3–4 NSH | 0G 2A 3S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2026-01-06 | EDM 6–2 NSH | 3G 0A 10S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-11-14 | EDM 3–2 NSH | 1G 1A 8S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-10-17 | EDM 4–2 NSH | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2023-12-14 | EDM 4–7 TBL | 1G 1A 7S | 4G 0A 7S |
| 2023-11-18 | EDM 4–6 TBL | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2023-01-19 | EDM 5–3 TBL | 1G 1A 6S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2022-11-08 | EDM 3–2 TBL | 1G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2022-03-12 | EDM 4–1 TBL | 2G 0A 7S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2022-02-23 | EDM 3–5 TBL | 2G 0A 5S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2018-12-22 | EDM 3–6 TBL | 0G 3A 5S | 2G 0A 3S |
Latest 12 of 15 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)
Steven Stamkos
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs MINOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jesper Wallstedt (.916)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs DAL2.0 ptsOpp allows 3rd-most FP to CSchedule edge +13.0 win%Likely vs Casey DeSmith (.907)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Connor McDavid or Steven Stamkos 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 Steven Stamkos's 2.00. McDavid had 138 points in 82 games; Stamkos had 66 in 82 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 Steven Stamkos?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Connor McDavid leads in 25 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 Stamkos done against each other?
- In 15 games against each other in our data, McDavid's team went 8–7. McDavid had 29 points (16 goals) and Stamkos had 16 (11 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, McDavid or Stamkos?
- Against each other, McDavid has won 11 and Stamkos 19 of their 30 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 →