Who to start · 2025-26
Drake Batherson vs Evgeni Malkin
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Evgeni Malkin projects to 2.12 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Drake Batherson's 2.01.
Batherson had 71 points in 79 games; Malkin had 61 in 56 games.
This week Batherson has 1 game left; Malkin has 1 left. We project Batherson for 1.7 ESPN points to Malkin's 1.6.
Drake Batherson has the better number in 19 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Batherson's biggest edges: Hits 122, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.22, Goals above expected +5.3.
Malkin's biggest edges: On-ice PDO 1034, Plus/minus +13, Faceoffs won 109.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Drake Batherson
2.01
fantasy points per game
Evgeni Malkin
2.08
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Evgeni Malkin has the edge.
| Points per game from | Batherson | Malkin |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.84 | 0.68 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.48 | 0.75 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.19 | 0.20 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.21 | 0.26 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.15 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.14 | 0.15 |
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: Batherson vs Malkin
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.
Batherson 6G 7A, 21 SOG · Malkin 2G 8A, 26 SOG
Batherson's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 0–1 · Batherson's defensive zone 1–0 (2023-24)
On the ice against each other (Batherson's side)
1:22 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Batherson's side
- Shot attempts
- 3–0
- 100.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.0
- 100.0%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Batherson | Malkin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-02 | OTT 3–2 PIT | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-12-14 | OTT 3–2 PIT | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-03-12 | OTT 2–1 PIT | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-12-23 | OTT 5–4 PIT | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2023-10-28 | OTT 5–2 PIT | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-03-20 | OTT 2–1 PIT | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2023-01-20 | OTT 1–4 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-01-18 | OTT 5–4 PIT | 1G 1A 3S | 1G 2A 4S |
| 2022-01-20 | OTT 4–6 PIT | 1G 1A 4S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2018-12-08 | OTT 2–1 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2018-11-17 | OTT 6–4 PIT | 0G 2A 0S | 0G 2A 2S |
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.
Drake Batherson
1games
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TOR1.7 pts
Evgeni Malkin
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHI
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL1.6 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Drake Batherson or Evgeni Malkin in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Evgeni Malkin projects to 2.12 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Drake Batherson's 2.01. Batherson had 71 points in 79 games; Malkin had 61 in 56 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, Drake Batherson or Evgeni Malkin?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Drake Batherson leads in 19 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Batherson and Malkin done against each other?
- In 11 games against each other in our data, Batherson's team went 9–2. Batherson had 13 points (6 goals) and Malkin had 10 (2 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Batherson or Malkin?
- Against each other, Batherson has won 1 and Malkin 1 of their 2 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 →