Who to start · 2025-26
David Jiricek vs Hunter McDonald
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Hunter McDonald projects to 1.99 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to David Jiricek's 0.69.
Jiricek had 0 points in 26 games; McDonald had 1 in 1 game.
This week Jiricek has 2 games left; McDonald has 2 left. In ESPN default points scoring we project Jiricek for 1.7 to McDonald's 1.5 over the games left.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Hunter McDonald rates ahead, +19.0 to -4.8 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: Jiricek is steady, 40% of team PP time (was 12%); McDonald has no recent trend.
- • 2026-27 so far: 9 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 6 SOG.
- • Hunter McDonald is a rookie: 1 NHL games before this season.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
Philadelphia Flyers · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
David Jiricek
-4.8
category z-score total
Hunter McDonald
+19.0
category z-score total
Under Standard (6 categories), Hunter McDonald has the edge (Jiricek wins 2, McDonald wins 3 of 6 categories).
| Category | Jiricek | McDonald |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Assists / game | 0.04 | 0.94 |
| Plus/minus / game | -0.13 | 2.75 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.04 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal / game | 0.63 | 0.00 |
| Hits / game | 0.65 | 4.94 |
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: Jiricek vs McDonald
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2026-27 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
On the ice together
7:37 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2026-27
- Shot attempts
- 7–11
- 38.9%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.3
- 59.7%
- 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
David Jiricek
3games (2 left)
1.7proj. ESPN default pts
- Mon, Oct 19 vs COLOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Mackenzie Blackwood (.903)
- Wed, Oct 21 @ BUF0.8 pts
- Sat, Oct 24 vs ANA0.8 pts
Hunter McDonald
3games (2 left)
1.5proj. ESPN default pts
- Mon, Oct 19 vs COLOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Mackenzie Blackwood (.903)
- Wed, Oct 21 @ BUF0.8 pts
- Sat, Oct 24 vs ANA0.8 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start David Jiricek or Hunter McDonald in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Hunter McDonald projects to 1.99 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to David Jiricek's 0.69. Jiricek had 0 points in 26 games; McDonald had 1 in 1 game. 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 →