Who to start · 2025-26
John Tavares vs Noah Dobson
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Noah Dobson projects to 2.17 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to John Tavares's 1.80.
Tavares had 71 points in 82 games; Dobson had 47 in 80 games.
This week Tavares has 1 game left; Dobson has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Tavares for 1.7 ESPN points to Dobson's 1.6.
John Tavares has the better number in 20 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Tavares's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.027, High-danger chances 47.2%, Power-play share 69.1%.
Dobson's biggest edges: Plus/minus +5, Transition attempts /60 0.60, Blocked shots 188.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
John Tavares
1.80
fantasy points per game
Noah Dobson
2.17
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Noah Dobson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Tavares | Dobson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.67 | 0.28 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.49 | 0.41 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.11 | 0.04 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.24 | 0.19 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.09 | 0.07 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 1.16 |
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 Dobson
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2019-20 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Tavares 4G 7A, 42 SOG · Dobson 5G 10A, 47 SOG
Tavares blocked 0 of Dobson's shots; Dobson blocked 3 of Tavares's.
On the ice against each other (Tavares's side)
31:59 at 5-on-5 over 5 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27, from Tavares's side
- Shot attempts
- 25–34
- 42.4%
- Expected goals
- 0.6–2.3
- 21.8%
- Goals
- 2–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Tavares | Dobson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-29 | TOR 2–3 MTL | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-03-10 | TOR 1–3 MTL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-12-06 | TOR 1–2 MTL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-11-22 | TOR 2–5 MTL | 0G 0A 1S | 2G 0A 3S |
| 2025-10-08 | TOR 5–2 MTL | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-01-02 | TOR 2–1 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-12-31 | TOR 3–1 NYI | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2024-12-21 | TOR 3–6 NYI | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2024-02-05 | TOR 2–3 NYI | 1G 1A 6S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-01-11 | TOR 3–4 NYI | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 4A 2S |
| 2023-12-11 | TOR 3–4 NYI | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 3A 1S |
| 2023-03-21 | TOR 2–7 NYI | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 1A 5S |
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 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 ptsLikely vs Linus Ullmark (.891)
Noah Dobson
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ TOROpp allows 14th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ PIT1.6 ptsOpp allows the fewest FP to DLikely vs Arturs Silovs (.888)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start John Tavares or Noah Dobson in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Noah Dobson projects to 2.17 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to John Tavares's 1.80. Tavares had 71 points in 82 games; Dobson had 47 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 Tavares or Noah Dobson?
- On 2025-26 numbers, John Tavares leads in 20 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Tavares and Dobson done against each other?
- In 17 games against each other in our data, Tavares's team went 7–10. Tavares had 11 points (4 goals) and Dobson had 15 (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 →