Who to start · 2025-26
Jake McCabe vs Mattias Ekholm
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jake McCabe projects to 1.75 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mattias Ekholm's 1.43.
McCabe had 25 points in 80 games; Ekholm had 41 in 82 games.
This week McCabe has 1 game left; Ekholm has 1 left. We project McCabe for 1.8 ESPN points to Ekholm's 1.6.
Mattias Ekholm has the better number in 22 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
McCabe's biggest edges: Goals above expected +0.7, Penalty minutes 64, 20+ mph bursts 62.
Ekholm's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 45.7%, Corsi 56.0%, Offensive-zone start % 59.6%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Jake McCabe
1.75
fantasy points per game
Mattias Ekholm
1.43
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Jake McCabe has the edge.
| Points per game from | McCabe | Ekholm |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.11 | 0.13 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.22 | 0.38 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.02 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.10 | 0.15 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.13 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 1.19 | 0.67 |
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: McCabe vs Ekholm
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.
McCabe 0G 4A, 14 SOG · Ekholm 1G 8A, 31 SOG
McCabe blocked 1 of Ekholm's shots; Ekholm blocked 0 of McCabe's.
On the ice against each other (McCabe's side)
19:44 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from McCabe's side
- Shot attempts
- 18–17
- 51.4%
- Expected goals
- 0.9–0.6
- 61.8%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | McCabe | Ekholm |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-03 | TOR 5–2 EDM | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-12-13 | TOR 3–6 EDM | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-11-16 | TOR 4–3 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-03-23 | TOR 6–3 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-01-16 | TOR 2–4 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-03-11 | TOR 7–4 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2023-03-01 | TOR 2–5 EDM | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-12-21 | CHI 2–4 NSH | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-04-16 | CHI 3–4 NSH | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2022-01-01 | CHI 1–6 NSH | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 3A 1S |
| 2021-12-17 | CHI 2–3 NSH | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2021-11-07 | CHI 2–1 NSH | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
Latest 12 of 15 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.
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.
Jake McCabe
3games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Tue, Sep 29 vs MTL
- Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2BSchedule edge −9.3 win%
- Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT1.8 pts
Mattias Ekholm
3games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VAN
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VAN
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.6 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Jake McCabe or Mattias Ekholm in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jake McCabe projects to 1.75 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mattias Ekholm's 1.43. McCabe had 25 points in 80 games; Ekholm had 41 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 McCabe or Mattias Ekholm?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mattias Ekholm leads in 22 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have McCabe and Ekholm done against each other?
- In 15 games against each other in our data, McCabe's team went 6–9. McCabe had 4 points (0 goals) and Ekholm had 9 (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 →