Who to start · 2025-26
Josh Doan vs Mika Zibanejad
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mika Zibanejad projects to 2.27 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Josh Doan's 1.47.
Doan had 52 points in 82 games; Zibanejad had 78 in 81 games.
This week Doan has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Zibanejad has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Doan for 1.8 ESPN points to Zibanejad's 1.4.
Mika Zibanejad has the better number in 19 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Doan's biggest edges: Ascension score 60, Plus/minus −4, Expected goals 54.5%.
Zibanejad's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 574, Ice-time share 34.4%, Ice time per game 20:54.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Josh Doan
1.47
fantasy points per game
Mika Zibanejad
2.27
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mika Zibanejad has the edge.
| Points per game from | Doan | Zibanejad |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.57 | 0.81 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.31 | 0.51 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.10 | 0.21 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.21 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.10 | 0.14 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.18 | 0.34 |
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: Doan vs Zibanejad
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2023-24 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Doan 1G 2A, 9 SOG · Zibanejad 1G 1A, 8 SOG
Doan's offensive zone 0–3 · neutral 1–1 · Doan's defensive zone 0–0 (2024-25)
On the ice against each other (Doan's side)
6:27 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Doan's side
- Shot attempts
- 10–5
- 66.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.6–0.4
- 61.8%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Doan | Zibanejad |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-08 | BUF 5–3 NYR | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2026-01-08 | BUF 5–2 NYR | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-10-09 | BUF 0–4 NYR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-01-16 | UTA 3–5 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-10-12 | UTA 6–5 NYR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-03-30 | ARI 5–8 NYR | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
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.
Josh Doan
2games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ CBJOpp allows 8th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CHI1.8 ptsOpp allows 4th-most FP to RWLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
Mika Zibanejad
4games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ BOSOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs TBLOpp allows 11th-most FP to CLikely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2BOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs John Gibson (.901)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA1.4 ptsOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Josh Doan or Mika Zibanejad in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mika Zibanejad projects to 2.27 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Josh Doan's 1.47. Doan had 52 points in 82 games; Zibanejad had 78 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, Josh Doan or Mika Zibanejad?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mika Zibanejad leads in 19 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Doan and Zibanejad done against each other?
- In 6 games against each other in our data, Doan's team went 3–3. Doan had 3 points (1 goals) and Zibanejad had 2 (1 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Doan or Zibanejad?
- Against each other, Doan has won 1 and Zibanejad 4 of their 5 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 →