Who to start · 2025-26
John Tavares vs Mitch Marner
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mitch Marner projects to 1.88 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to John Tavares's 1.80.
Tavares had 71 points in 82 games; Marner had 80 in 81 games.
This week Tavares has 1 game left; Marner has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Marner for 2.3 ESPN points to Tavares's 1.7.
Mitch Marner has the better number in 23 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Tavares's biggest edges: Faceoff win % 57.5%, Draw Equity /100 +0.071, Hits 74.
Marner's biggest edges: Plus/minus +17, High-danger chances 59.0%, Scoring chances 55.7%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 5 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
John Tavares
1.80
fantasy points per game
Mitch Marner
1.88
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mitch Marner has the edge.
| Points per game from | Tavares | Marner |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.67 | 0.52 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.49 | 0.67 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.11 | 0.16 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.24 | 0.21 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.09 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.28 |
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: Tavares vs Marner
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.
Tavares 3G 1A, 14 SOG · Marner 3G 3A, 15 SOG
Tavares's offensive zone 3–1 · neutral 1–2 · Tavares's defensive zone 0–0 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
Tavares blocked 6 of Marner's shots; Marner blocked 0 of Tavares's.
Goals each scored with the other picking up an assist (as teammates).
On the ice against each other (Tavares's side)
14:24 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Tavares's side
- Shot attempts
- 18–13
- 58.1%
- Expected goals
- 0.9–0.5
- 63.0%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Tavares | Marner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-23 | TOR 3–6 VGK | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-01-15 | TOR 5–6 VGK | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2018-03-30 | NYI 4–5 TOR | 1G 0A 4S | 1G 1A 5S |
| 2018-02-22 | NYI 3–4 TOR | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2018-01-31 | NYI 0–5 TOR | 0G 0A 5S | 1G 0A 4S |
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 Tavares
3games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs MTLOpp allows 14th-most FP to CLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
- Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2BOpp allows 15th-most FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT1.7 ptsvs Linus Ullmark (.891)
Mitch Marner
3games (1 left)
2.3proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs CHIOpp allows 4th-most FP to RWLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs ANAOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ VAN2.3 ptsOpp allows 9th-most FP to RWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start John Tavares or Mitch Marner in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mitch Marner projects to 1.88 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to John Tavares's 1.80. Tavares had 71 points in 82 games; Marner had 80 in 81 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 Tavares or Mitch Marner?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mitch Marner leads in 23 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Tavares and Marner done against each other?
- In 5 games against each other in our data, Tavares's team went 0–5. Tavares had 4 points (3 goals) and Marner had 6 (3 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Tavares or Marner?
- Against each other, Tavares has won 4 and Marner 3 of their 7 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 →