Who to start · 2025-26
Connor McDavid vs Valeri Nichushkin
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Connor McDavid projects to 3.76 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Valeri Nichushkin's 1.41.
McDavid had 138 points in 82 games; Nichushkin had 49 in 72 games.
This week McDavid has 2 games left with 1 tough matchup; Nichushkin has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. In ESPN default points scoring we project McDavid for 6.1 to Nichushkin's 1.3 over the games left.
Connor McDavid has the better number in 23 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
McDavid's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 457, Goals above expected +0.6, Ascension score 80.
Nichushkin's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.024, Hardest shot 87.7, Hits 55.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Connor McDavid rates ahead, +21.0 to +0.8 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: McDavid is rising, 14 P in last 5 (2.00/GP before); Nichushkin is steady, −1:46 5v5 TOI.
- • 2026-27 so far: 9 GP, 6 G, 20 A, 8 PPP, 22 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 8 GP, 1 G, 3 A, 1 PPP, 10 SOG.
Edmonton Oilers · Columbus Blue Jackets · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Connor McDavid
+21.0
category z-score total
Valeri Nichushkin
+0.8
category z-score total
Under Standard (6 categories), Connor McDavid has the edge (McDavid wins 5, Nichushkin wins 1 of 6 categories).
| Category | McDavid | Nichushkin |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.62 | 0.20 |
| Assists / game | 1.52 | 0.42 |
| Plus/minus / game | 0.84 | -0.01 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.74 | 0.08 |
| Shots on goal / game | 3.25 | 1.88 |
| Hits / game | 0.85 | 1.11 |
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 Nichushkin
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2018-19 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
McDavid 12G 16A, 81 SOG · Nichushkin 6G 3A, 45 SOG
McDavid blocked 1 of Nichushkin's shots; Nichushkin blocked 0 of McDavid's.
On the ice against each other (McDavid's side)
11:53 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from McDavid's side
- Shot attempts
- 25–6
- 80.6%
- Expected goals
- 1.3–0.5
- 71.8%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | McDavid | Nichushkin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-13 | EDM 1–2 COL | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-03-10 | EDM 4–3 COL | 1G 1A 5S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-11-08 | EDM 1–9 COL | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-11-30 | EDM 4–1 COL | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-04-05 | EDM 6–2 COL | 2G 0A 9S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-03-16 | EDM 2–3 COL | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2023-04-11 | EDM 2–1 COL | 0G 1A 7S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-02-19 | EDM 5–6 COL | 0G 1A 4S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2022-06-06 · PO | EDM 5–6 COL | 1G 2A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-06-04 · PO | EDM 2–4 COL | 1G 0A 4S | 2G 0A 5S |
| 2022-06-02 · PO | EDM 0–4 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-05-31 · PO | EDM 6–8 COL | 1G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
Latest 12 of 19 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
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 11th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jesper Wallstedt (.916)
- Thu, Oct 22 vs CAR2.8 pts
- Sat, Oct 24 vs TOR3.3 ptsOpp allows 13th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
Valeri Nichushkin
2games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN default pts
- Tue, Oct 20 vs TOR
- Sat, Oct 24 vs VGK1.3 ptsOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Carter Hart (.891)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Connor McDavid or Valeri Nichushkin 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 Valeri Nichushkin's 1.41. McDavid had 138 points in 82 games; Nichushkin had 49 in 72 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 Valeri Nichushkin?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Connor McDavid leads in 23 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 Nichushkin done against each other?
- In 19 games against each other in our data, McDavid's team went 7–12. McDavid had 28 points (12 goals) and Nichushkin had 9 (6 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 →