Who to start · 2025-26
John Klingberg 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 John Klingberg's 1.52.
Klingberg had 27 points in 56 games; MacKinnon had 127 in 80 games.
This week Klingberg has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; MacKinnon has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project MacKinnon for 2.2 ESPN points to Klingberg's 1.8.
Nathan MacKinnon has the better number in 30 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Klingberg's biggest edges: Shorthanded points 0, Net penalties drawn /60 −0.26, Faceoffs won 0.
MacKinnon's biggest edges: Top skating speed 24.8, Plus/minus +57, 20+ mph bursts 455.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 8 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
John Klingberg
1.52
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 | Klingberg | MacKinnon |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.36 | 1.32 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.30 | 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) | 0.08 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.55 | 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: Klingberg 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.
Klingberg 1G 12A, 34 SOG · MacKinnon 5G 12A, 82 SOG
Klingberg blocked 1 of MacKinnon's shots; MacKinnon blocked 1 of Klingberg's.
On the ice against each other (Klingberg's side)
10:54 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Klingberg's side
- Shot attempts
- 11–17
- 39.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–2.4
- 14.9%
- Goals
- 1–3
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Klingberg | MacKinnon |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-04 | SJS 2–4 COL | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 2A 4S |
| 2025-11-01 | SJS 3–2 COL | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2025-02-07 | EDM 4–5 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 3A 7S |
| 2023-03-29 | MIN 4–2 COL | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2023-01-26 | ANA 5–3 COL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2022-02-15 | DAL 4–1 COL | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2020-01-14 | DAL 3–2 COL | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 2A 5S |
| 2019-12-28 | DAL 3–2 COL | 0G 2A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2019-11-05 | DAL 4–1 COL | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 8S |
| 2019-11-01 | DAL 2–1 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 12S |
| 2019-03-21 | DAL 1–3 COL | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 9S |
| 2019-03-07 | DAL 4–0 COL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 4S |
Latest 12 of 17 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.
John Klingberg
2games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs FLAOpp allows 15th-fewest FP to D
- Sat, Oct 3 vs LAK1.8 ptsOpp allows 3rd-most FP to D
Nathan MacKinnon
2games (1 left)
2.2proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows the most FP to C
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL2.2 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start John Klingberg 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 John Klingberg's 1.52. Klingberg had 27 points in 56 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, John Klingberg or Nathan MacKinnon?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nathan MacKinnon leads in 30 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Klingberg and MacKinnon done against each other?
- In 17 games against each other in our data, Klingberg's team went 11–6. Klingberg had 13 points (1 goals) and MacKinnon had 17 (5 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 →