Who to start · 2025-26
Connor McMichael vs Jake DeBrusk
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jake DeBrusk 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; DeBrusk had 42 in 81 games.
This week McMichael has 2 games left with 2 tough matchups; DeBrusk has 2 left with 1 soft and 1 tough matchups. In ESPN default points scoring we project DeBrusk for 2.9 to McMichael's 2.3 over the games left.
Connor McMichael has the better number in 21 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
McMichael's biggest edges: Plus/minus +8, On-ice PDO 1019, Luck Meter −4.
DeBrusk's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 43.0%, Ascension score 69, Power-play share 70.3%.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Jake DeBrusk rates ahead, +0.6 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); DeBrusk is steady, On-ice xGF/60 2.90 (was 2.09).
- • 2026-27 so far: 9 GP, 2 G, 4 A, 2 PPP, 12 SOG.
- • DeBrusk has played 8 of the Canucks' 10 games since Sep 29 (in and out of the lineup).
- • 2026-27 so far: 8 GP, 3 G, 2 A, 1 PPP, 20 SOG.
St. Louis Blues · Vancouver Canucks · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Connor McMichael
-0.4
category z-score total
Jake DeBrusk
+0.6
category z-score total
Under Standard (6 categories), Jake DeBrusk has the edge (McMichael wins 2, DeBrusk wins 4 of 6 categories).
| Category | McMichael | DeBrusk |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.20 | 0.32 |
| Assists / game | 0.42 | 0.24 |
| Plus/minus / game | -0.10 | -0.38 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.12 | 0.24 |
| Shots on goal / game | 1.64 | 2.63 |
| Hits / game | 0.49 | 0.79 |
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 DeBrusk
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
McMichael 0G 4A, 18 SOG · DeBrusk 1G 3A, 16 SOG
On the ice against each other (McMichael's side)
7:00 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from McMichael's side
- Shot attempts
- 10–3
- 76.9%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.2
- 70.0%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | McMichael | DeBrusk |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-21 | WSH 3–4 VAN | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2025-10-19 | WSH 3–4 VAN | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-01-25 | WSH 1–2 VAN | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-01-08 | WSH 2–1 VAN | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-04-15 | WSH 2–0 BOS | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-03-30 | WSH 2–3 BOS | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-02-10 | WSH 3–0 BOS | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2022-04-10 | WSH 4–2 BOS | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-01-20 | WSH 3–4 BOS | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 1A 4S |
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)
Jake DeBrusk
3games (2 left)
2.9proj. ESPN default pts
- Tue, Oct 20 vs CAROpp allows 8th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Pyotr Kochetkov (.899)
- Thu, Oct 22 vs DET1.7 ptsOpp allows 3rd-most FP to LWLikely vs John Gibson (.901)
- Sun, Oct 25 vs MIN1.2 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Connor McMichael or Jake DeBrusk in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jake DeBrusk 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; DeBrusk had 42 in 81 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 McMichael or Jake DeBrusk?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Connor McMichael leads in 21 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have McMichael and DeBrusk done against each other?
- In 9 games against each other in our data, McMichael's team went 4–5. McMichael had 4 points (0 goals) and DeBrusk had 4 (1 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 →