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Who to start · 2025-26

Josh Manson vs Sam Bennett

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Sam Bennett projects to 1.74 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Josh Manson's 1.48.

Manson had 31 points in 79 games; Bennett had 58 in 76 games.

This week Manson has 1 game left; Bennett has 1 left. We project Bennett for 1.6 ESPN points to Manson's 1.4.

Sam Bennett has the better number in 18 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

Manson's biggest edges: Plus/minus +42, Transition attempts /60 0.59, Ascension score 49.

Bennett's biggest edges: Power-play time per game 3:13, Offensive-zone start % 58.1%, Ice-time share 30.5%.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Josh Manson

1.48

fantasy points per game

Sam Bennett

1.74

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Sam Bennett has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromMansonBennett
Goals (+2)0.120.60
Assists (+1)0.370.43
Power-play points (+0.5)0.000.09
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.000.00
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.160.25
Hits (+0.1)0.210.19
Blocks (+0.5)0.620.19

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 Bennett

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.

MansonBennett
5Team record in 13 meetings8
6Points in those games3

Manson 1G 5A, 30 SOG · Bennett 2G 1A, 17 SOG

3Hits on each other4
1Penalties drawn off the other1

On the ice against each other (Manson's side)

9:54 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Manson's side

Shot attempts
11–8
57.9%
Expected goals
0.6–0.5
54.6%
Goals
0–1

Games against each other

Games between Josh Manson and Sam Bennett
DateScoreMansonBennett
2026-01-04COL 1–2 FLA0G 1A 2S1G 0A 3S
2025-12-11COL 6–2 FLA0G 2A 1S0G 0A 0S
2025-01-06COL 3–1 FLA0G 0A 3S0G 0A 2S
2024-11-23COL 7–4 FLA0G 0A 2S0G 0A 3S
2024-02-10COL 0–4 FLA0G 0A 3S0G 0A 1S
2024-01-06COL 4–8 FLA1G 0A 3S0G 1A 1S
2020-02-17ANA 4–6 CGY0G 0A 2S1G 0A 2S
2020-02-13ANA 0–6 CGY0G 0A 3S0G 0A 0S
2019-02-22ANA 1–2 CGY0G 0A 0S0G 0A 2S
2018-11-07ANA 3–2 CGY0G 1A 2S0G 0A 1S
2018-01-06ANA 2–3 CGY0G 1A 0S0G 0A 1S
2017-12-29ANA 2–1 CGY0G 0A 5S0G 0A 1S

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.

MansonBennett

Fantasy box score

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)

1.4proj. ESPN pts

  • Wed, Sep 30 vs LAK
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs STL1.4 pts
    Schedule edge +9.3 win%

Sam Bennett

3games (1 left)

1.6proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 @ CAR
  • Thu, Oct 1 @ SJS
    Schedule edge −1.0 win%
  • Sun, Oct 4 @ ANA1.6 pts

FAQ

Should I start Josh Manson or Sam Bennett in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Sam Bennett projects to 1.74 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Josh Manson's 1.48. Manson had 31 points in 79 games; Bennett had 58 in 76 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 Sam Bennett?
On 2025-26 numbers, Sam Bennett leads in 18 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 Bennett done against each other?
In 13 games against each other in our data, Manson's team went 5–8. Manson had 6 points (1 goals) and Bennett had 3 (2 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 →