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Who to start · 2025-26

Jake DeBrusk vs John Tavares

Jake DeBruskJake DeBruskCanucks · Left wingvsJohn TavaresJohn TavaresMaple Leafs · Centre

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, John Tavares projects to 1.80 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Jake DeBrusk's 1.42.

DeBrusk had 42 points in 81 games; Tavares had 71 in 82 games.

This week DeBrusk has 2 games left; Tavares has 1 left. We project DeBrusk for 2.7 ESPN points to Tavares's 1.7.

John Tavares has the better number in 24 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

DeBrusk's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.79, 20+ mph bursts 168, Top skating speed 23.5.

Tavares's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.027, Luck Meter +12, Faceoffs won 801.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Jake DeBrusk

1.42

fantasy points per game

John Tavares

1.80

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, John Tavares has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromDeBruskTavares
Goals (+2)0.500.67
Assists (+1)0.270.49
Power-play points (+0.5)0.130.11
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.000.00
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.260.24
Hits (+0.1)0.080.09
Blocks (+0.5)0.190.22

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: DeBrusk vs Tavares

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.

DeBruskTavares
20Team record in 32 meetings12
15Points in those games18

DeBrusk 8G 7A, 77 SOG · Tavares 9G 9A, 97 SOG

0Faceoffs against each other3

DeBrusk's offensive zone 0–1 · neutral 0–1 · DeBrusk's defensive zone 0–1 (2022-23 to 2023-24)

3Hits on each other3
1Shots blocked by the other0

DeBrusk blocked 1 of Tavares's shots; Tavares blocked 0 of DeBrusk's.

On the ice against each other (DeBrusk's side)

4:37 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from DeBrusk's side

Shot attempts
3–4
42.9%
Expected goals
0.0–0.1
24.0%
Goals
0–0

Games against each other

Games between Jake DeBrusk and John Tavares
DateScoreDeBruskTavares
2026-01-31VAN 2–3 TOR0G 0A 4S0G 0A 4S
2026-01-10VAN 0–5 TOR0G 0A 2S1G 0A 1S
2025-02-08VAN 2–1 TOR0G 0A 1S0G 0A 2S
2025-01-11VAN 3–0 TOR0G 0A 1S0G 0A 2S
2024-05-04 · POBOS 2–1 TOR0G 0A 4S0G 0A 3S
2024-05-02 · POBOS 1–2 TOR0G 0A 3S0G 0A 1S
2024-04-30 · POBOS 1–2 TOR0G 0A 1S0G 1A 4S
2024-04-27 · POBOS 3–1 TOR0G 0A 1S0G 0A 3S
2024-04-24 · POBOS 4–2 TOR1G 0A 2S0G 0A 3S
2024-04-22 · POBOS 2–3 TOR0G 1A 2S1G 0A 2S
2024-04-20 · POBOS 5–1 TOR2G 1A 3S0G 0A 6S
2024-03-07BOS 4–1 TOR0G 2A 1S0G 0A 1S

Latest 12 of 32 meetings.

Every stat, side by side

Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.

DeBruskTavares

Fantasy box score

Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

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.

Jake DeBrusk

4games (2 left)

2.7proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 @ EDM
    Opp allows 3rd-most FP to LWLikely vs Tristan Jarry (.882)
  • Thu, Oct 1 vs EDM
    Opp allows 3rd-most FP to LWLikely vs Devon Levi (.682)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs CGY1.4 pts
    Opp allows 16th-most FP to LWSchedule edge −3.4 win%Likely vs Dustin Wolf (.899)
  • Sun, Oct 4 vs VGKB2B1.3 pts
    Opp allows 14th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Carter Hart (.891)

John Tavares

3games (1 left)

1.7proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 vs MTL
    Opp allows 14th-most FP to CLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
  • Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2B
    Opp allows 15th-most FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT1.7 pts
    vs Linus Ullmark (.891)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Jake DeBrusk or John Tavares in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, John Tavares projects to 1.80 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Jake DeBrusk's 1.42. DeBrusk had 42 points in 81 games; Tavares had 71 in 82 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, Jake DeBrusk or John Tavares?
On 2025-26 numbers, John Tavares leads in 24 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
How have DeBrusk and Tavares done against each other?
In 32 games against each other in our data, DeBrusk's team went 20–12. DeBrusk had 15 points (8 goals) and Tavares had 18 (9 goals).
Who wins more faceoffs, DeBrusk or Tavares?
Against each other, DeBrusk has won 0 and Tavares 3 of their 3 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 →