Who to start · 2025-26
Evgeni Malkin vs Josh Manson
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Evgeni Malkin projects to 2.12 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Josh Manson's 1.48.
Malkin had 61 points in 56 games; Manson had 31 in 79 games.
This week Malkin has 1 game left; Manson has 1 left. We project Malkin for 1.7 ESPN points to Manson's 1.4.
Josh Manson has the better number in 18 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Malkin's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 76.9%, Power-play time per game 3:09, Power-play share 72.1%.
Manson's biggest edges: Hits 174, 20+ mph bursts 60, Corsi 57.3%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Evgeni Malkin
2.12
fantasy points per game
Josh Manson
1.48
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Evgeni Malkin has the edge.
| Points per game from | Malkin | Manson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.76 | 0.12 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.70 | 0.37 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.00 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.26 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.21 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.14 | 0.62 |
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: Malkin vs Manson
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Malkin 7G 7A, 27 SOG · Manson 1G 3A, 14 SOG
Malkin blocked 1 of Manson's shots; Manson blocked 0 of Malkin's.
On the ice against each other (Malkin's side)
4:18 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Malkin's side
- Shot attempts
- 5–4
- 55.6%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.7
- 27.9%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Malkin | Manson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-16 | PIT 7–2 COL | 2G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-03-24 | PIT 4–5 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-10-26 | PIT 4–0 COL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-04-05 | PIT 4–6 COL | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2022-04-02 | PIT 2–3 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-01-11 | PIT 4–1 ANA | 2G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2020-02-28 | PIT 2–3 ANA | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2019-01-11 | PIT 7–4 ANA | 1G 3A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2018-12-17 | PIT 2–4 ANA | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2018-01-17 | PIT 3–5 ANA | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2017-12-23 | PIT 0–4 ANA | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
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.
Evgeni Malkin
2games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 5th-most FP to CLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL1.7 ptsOpp allows 12th-most FP to CLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Josh Manson
2games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows 3rd-most FP to DLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL1.4 ptsSchedule edge +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Evgeni Malkin or Josh Manson 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 Josh Manson's 1.48. Malkin had 61 points in 56 games; Manson had 31 in 79 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, Evgeni Malkin or Josh Manson?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Josh Manson leads in 18 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Malkin and Manson done against each other?
- In 11 games against each other in our data, Malkin's team went 4–7. Malkin had 14 points (7 goals) and Manson 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 →