Who to start · 2025-26
Keegan Kolesar vs Nathan MacKinnon
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nathan MacKinnon projects to 3.32 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Keegan Kolesar's 0.91.
Kolesar had 17 points in 82 games; MacKinnon had 127 in 80 games.
This week Kolesar plays 3 games; MacKinnon plays 3. We project MacKinnon for 8.6 ESPN points to Kolesar's 3.0.
Nathan MacKinnon has the better number in 29 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Kolesar's biggest edges: Hits 270, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.045, Shorthanded points 1.
MacKinnon's biggest edges: On-ice PDO 1054, Luck Meter +52, Plus/minus +57.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 2 G, 3 A, 1 PPP, 12 SOG.
Detroit Red Wings · Colorado Avalanche · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Keegan Kolesar
0.91
fantasy points per game
Nathan MacKinnon
3.32
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nathan MacKinnon has the edge.
| Points per game from | Kolesar | MacKinnon |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.13 | 1.40 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.12 | 0.99 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.19 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.46 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.32 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.26 | 0.19 |
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: Kolesar vs MacKinnon
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2020-21 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Kolesar 2G 4A, 23 SOG · MacKinnon 7G 19A, 132 SOG
Kolesar's offensive zone 1–1 · neutral 0–1 · Kolesar's defensive zone 1–2 (2020-21 to 2021-22)
Kolesar blocked 2 of MacKinnon's shots; MacKinnon blocked 1 of Kolesar's.
On the ice against each other (Kolesar's side)
18:46 at 5-on-5 over 6 games, 2025-26, from Kolesar's side
- Shot attempts
- 18–24
- 42.9%
- Expected goals
- 1.1–1.2
- 49.0%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Kolesar | MacKinnon |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-26 · PO | VGK 2–1 COL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-05-24 · PO | VGK 5–3 COL | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2026-05-22 · PO | VGK 3–1 COL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-05-20 · PO | VGK 4–2 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2026-04-11 | VGK 3–2 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2025-12-27 | VGK 5–6 COL | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 2A 9S |
| 2025-10-31 | VGK 2–4 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-04-08 | VGK 2–3 COL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 6S |
| 2024-11-27 | VGK 1–2 COL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 10S |
| 2024-10-09 | VGK 8–4 COL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 2A 4S |
| 2024-04-14 | VGK 4–3 COL | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2024-01-10 | VGK 0–3 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 7S |
Latest 12 of 31 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
Oct 5 to Oct 11. 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.
Keegan Kolesar
3games
3.0proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Oct 6 vs OTT1.0 ptsSchedule edge +11.6 win%Likely vs Linus Ullmark (.891)
- Fri, Oct 9 vs SEA1.0 ptsLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)
- Schedule edge −11.8 win%Likely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Nathan MacKinnon
3games
8.6proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Oct 7 @ WPG2.9 ptsLikely vs Stuart Skinner (.888)
- Schedule edge −12.8 win%Likely vs Dustin Wolf (.899)
- Sat, Oct 10 vs TOR2.9 ptsLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Keegan Kolesar or Nathan MacKinnon in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nathan MacKinnon projects to 3.32 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Keegan Kolesar's 0.91. Kolesar had 17 points in 82 games; MacKinnon had 127 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, Keegan Kolesar or Nathan MacKinnon?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nathan MacKinnon leads in 29 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Kolesar and MacKinnon done against each other?
- In 31 games against each other in our data, Kolesar's team went 18–13. Kolesar had 6 points (2 goals) and MacKinnon had 26 (7 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Kolesar or MacKinnon?
- Against each other, Kolesar has won 2 and MacKinnon 4 of their 6 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 →