Who to start · 2025-26
James van Riemsdyk vs Nathan MacKinnon
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nathan MacKinnon projects to 3.32 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to James van Riemsdyk's 1.07.
van Riemsdyk had 31 points in 72 games; MacKinnon had 127 in 80 games.
This week van Riemsdyk has 1 game left; MacKinnon has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project MacKinnon for 2.2 ESPN points to van Riemsdyk's 1.3.
Nathan MacKinnon has the better number in 31 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
van Riemsdyk's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.14.
MacKinnon's biggest edges: Plus/minus +57, 20+ mph bursts 455, Top skating speed 24.8.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 8 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
James van Riemsdyk
1.07
fantasy points per game
Nathan MacKinnon
3.17
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nathan MacKinnon has the edge.
| Points per game from | van Riemsdyk | MacKinnon |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.42 | 1.32 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.22 | 0.93 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.08 | 0.19 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.14 | 0.44 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.02 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.19 | 0.22 |
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: van Riemsdyk vs MacKinnon
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.
van Riemsdyk 2G 1A, 25 SOG · MacKinnon 6G 8A, 52 SOG
van Riemsdyk's offensive zone 1–0 · neutral 0–0 · van Riemsdyk's defensive zone 0–0 (2018-19)
On the ice against each other (van Riemsdyk's side)
2:37 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from van Riemsdyk's side
- Shot attempts
- 2–6
- 25.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.3
- 14.6%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | van Riemsdyk | MacKinnon |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-02 | DET 2–0 COL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2026-01-31 | DET 0–5 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 2G 1A 4S |
| 2024-10-12 | CBJ 6–4 COL | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2024-01-18 | BOS 5–2 COL | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 6S |
| 2022-03-25 | PHI 3–6 COL | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2021-12-06 | PHI 5–7 COL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 8S |
| 2020-02-01 | PHI 6–3 COL | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2019-12-11 | PHI 1–3 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2018-10-06 | PHI 2–5 COL | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 1A 7S |
| 2018-01-22 | TOR 2–4 COL | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2017-12-29 | TOR 3–4 COL | 1G 0A 4S | 1G 2A 5S |
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.
James van Riemsdyk
2games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs NYROpp allows 7th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Dylan Garand (.948)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs WPG1.3 ptsOpp allows 14th-most FP to LWLikely vs Stuart Skinner (.888)
Nathan MacKinnon
2games (1 left)
2.2proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows the most FP to CLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL2.2 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start James van Riemsdyk or Nathan MacKinnon in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nathan MacKinnon projects to 3.32 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to James van Riemsdyk's 1.07. van Riemsdyk had 31 points in 72 games; MacKinnon had 127 in 80 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, James van Riemsdyk or Nathan MacKinnon?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nathan MacKinnon leads in 31 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have van Riemsdyk and MacKinnon done against each other?
- In 11 games against each other in our data, van Riemsdyk's team went 4–7. van Riemsdyk had 3 points (2 goals) and MacKinnon had 14 (6 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, van Riemsdyk or MacKinnon?
- Against each other, van Riemsdyk has won 1 and MacKinnon 0 of their 1 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 →