Who to start · 2025-26
Lawson Crouse vs Mitch Marner
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mitch Marner projects to 1.88 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Lawson Crouse's 1.65.
Crouse had 44 points in 81 games; Marner had 80 in 81 games.
This week Crouse has 2 games left with 1 tough matchup; Marner has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Crouse for 2.4 ESPN points to Marner's 2.3.
Mitch Marner has the better number in 21 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Crouse's biggest edges: Hits 212, Transition attempts /60 1.80, 20+ mph bursts 155.
Marner's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 45.6%, Power-play share 80.1%, Power-play points 24.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 5 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Lawson Crouse
1.65
fantasy points per game
Mitch Marner
1.88
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mitch Marner has the edge.
| Points per game from | Crouse | Marner |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.56 | 0.52 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.29 | 0.67 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.04 | 0.16 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.17 | 0.21 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.28 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.30 | 0.28 |
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: Crouse vs Marner
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.
Crouse 5G 7A, 28 SOG · Marner 6G 13A, 44 SOG
Crouse's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 1–0 · Crouse's defensive zone 0–0 (2025-26)
Crouse blocked 0 of Marner's shots; Marner blocked 1 of Crouse's.
On the ice against each other (Crouse's side)
38:15 at 5-on-5 over 8 games, 2025-26, from Crouse's side
- Shot attempts
- 37–45
- 45.1%
- Expected goals
- 1.9–2.0
- 48.5%
- Goals
- 3–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Crouse | Marner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-01 · PO | UTA 1–5 VGK | 0G 0A 0S | 2G 1A 7S |
| 2026-04-29 · PO | UTA 4–5 VGK | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2026-04-27 · PO | UTA 4–5 VGK | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2026-04-24 · PO | UTA 4–2 VGK | 2G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-04-21 · PO | UTA 3–2 VGK | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2026-04-19 · PO | UTA 2–4 VGK | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2026-03-19 | UTA 4–0 VGK | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-11-24 | UTA 5–1 VGK | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-11-20 | UTA 1–4 VGK | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-03-10 | UTA 3–4 TOR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-11-24 | UTA 2–3 TOR | 0G 0A 1S | 2G 0A 4S |
| 2024-02-29 | ARI 2–4 TOR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
Latest 12 of 20 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.
Lawson Crouse
3games (2 left)
2.4proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs CHIOpp allows 2nd-most FP to LWLikely vs Arvid Soderblom (.880)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ CBJ1.2 ptsOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ NYRB2B1.2 ptsOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
Mitch Marner
3games (1 left)
2.3proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs CHIOpp allows 4th-most FP to RWLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs ANALikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ VAN2.3 ptsOpp allows 7th-most FP to RWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Lawson Crouse or Mitch Marner in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mitch Marner projects to 1.88 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Lawson Crouse's 1.65. Crouse had 44 points in 81 games; Marner had 80 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, Lawson Crouse or Mitch Marner?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mitch Marner 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 Crouse and Marner done against each other?
- In 20 games against each other in our data, Crouse's team went 9–11. Crouse had 12 points (5 goals) and Marner had 19 (6 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Crouse or Marner?
- Against each other, Crouse has won 1 and Marner 0 of their 1 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 →