Who to start · 2025-26
Connor McMichael vs Ilya Protas
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Ilya Protas projects to 1.53 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Connor McMichael's 1.32.
McMichael had 46 points in 78 games; Protas had 4 in 4 games.
This week McMichael has 2 games left with 2 tough matchups; Protas has 1 left. In ESPN default points scoring we project McMichael for 2.3 to Protas's 1.3 over the games left.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Ilya Protas rates ahead, +1.8 to -0.4 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: McMichael is steady, ixG/60 0.46 (was 0.99); Protas is rising, ixG/60 1.58 (was 0.52).
- • 2026-27 so far: 9 GP, 2 G, 4 A, 2 PPP, 12 SOG.
- • Ilya Protas is a rookie: 4 NHL games before this season.
- • 2026-27 so far: 9 GP, 1 G, 4 A, 1 PPP, 8 SOG.
St. Louis Blues · Washington Capitals · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Connor McMichael
-0.4
category z-score total
Ilya Protas
+1.8
category z-score total
Under Standard (6 categories), Ilya Protas has the edge (McMichael wins 2, Protas wins 4 of 6 categories).
| Category | McMichael | Protas |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.20 | 0.20 |
| Assists / game | 0.42 | 0.64 |
| Plus/minus / game | -0.10 | 0.11 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.12 | 0.20 |
| Shots on goal / game | 1.64 | 1.43 |
| Hits / game | 0.49 | 0.17 |
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: McMichael vs Protas
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.
On the ice together
2:52 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26
- Shot attempts
- 1–6
- 14.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.4
- 14.4%
- Goals
- 0–0
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 McMichael
3games (2 left)
2.3proj. ESPN default pts
- Tue, Oct 20 vs WPGOpp allows 13th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Stuart Skinner (.888)
- Thu, Oct 22 vs VGK1.2 ptsOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Carter Hart (.891)
- Sat, Oct 24 vs CAR1.2 ptsOpp allows 8th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Pyotr Kochetkov (.899)
Ilya Protas
2games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN default pts
- Tue, Oct 20 vs LAKOpp allows 2nd-most FP to LWLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 24 vs BUF1.3 ptsOpp allows 11th-most FP to LWLikely vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.910)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Connor McMichael or Ilya Protas in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Ilya Protas projects to 1.53 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Connor McMichael's 1.32. McMichael had 46 points in 78 games; Protas had 4 in 4 games. Check this week's games and your league's scoring in the fantasy panel above, since more games usually decide a weekly start.
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 →