Who to start · 2025-26
Josh Manson 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 Manson's 1.48.
Manson had 31 points in 79 games; Zibanejad had 78 in 81 games.
This week Manson has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Zibanejad has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Zibanejad for 1.4 ESPN points to Manson's 1.1.
Mika Zibanejad has the better number in 21 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Manson's biggest edges: Plus/minus +42, Penalty minutes 91, Fenwick 57.4%.
Zibanejad's biggest edges: Goals above expected +5.8, Ice time per game 20:54, Ice-time share 34.4%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Josh Manson
1.48
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 | Manson | Zibanejad |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.12 | 0.81 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.37 | 0.51 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.21 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.16 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.21 | 0.14 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.62 | 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: Manson vs Zibanejad
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.
Manson 0G 5A, 12 SOG · Zibanejad 4G 8A, 37 SOG
Manson blocked 1 of Zibanejad's shots; Zibanejad blocked 0 of Manson's.
On the ice against each other (Manson's side)
10:51 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Manson's side
- Shot attempts
- 18–5
- 78.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.8–0.0
- 95.3%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Manson | Zibanejad |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-06 | COL 3–2 NYR | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-11-20 | COL 6–3 NYR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2025-01-26 | COL 5–4 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-01-14 | COL 3–2 NYR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-03-28 | COL 2–3 NYR | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-02-05 | COL 1–2 NYR | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-10-25 | COL 3–2 NYR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2022-01-08 | ANA 1–4 NYR | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2019-12-22 | ANA 1–5 NYR | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 1A 7S |
| 2019-12-14 | ANA 4–3 NYR | 0G 0A 2S | 2G 0A 6S |
| 2018-12-18 | ANA 1–3 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2018-01-23 | ANA 6–3 NYR | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 2A 2S |
Latest 12 of 13 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.
Josh Manson
2games (1 left)
1.1proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows 3rd-most FP to DLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL1.1 ptsOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to DSchedule edge +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
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 Manson 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 Manson's 1.48. Manson had 31 points in 79 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 Manson or Mika Zibanejad?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mika Zibanejad leads in 21 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Manson and Zibanejad done against each other?
- In 13 games against each other in our data, Manson's team went 7–6. Manson had 5 points (0 goals) and Zibanejad had 12 (4 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 →