Who to start · 2026-27

Leon Draisaitl vs Michael Bunting

Leon DraisaitlOilers · Centre
vs
Michael BuntingFlyers · Left wing
RisingixG/60 1.97 (was 1.43)
SteadyixG/60 1.33 (was 0.61)

In 2026-27, Leon Draisaitl scored 3.51 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Michael Bunting's 0.57.

Draisaitl had 38 points in 21 games; Bunting had 2 in 11 games.

This week Draisaitl has 1 game left; Bunting has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. In ESPN default points scoring we project Draisaitl for 3.2 to Bunting's 0.7 over the games left.

They split the 2 stats both are ranked on 1–1.

Draisaitl's biggest edges: Luck Meter +51.

Bunting's biggest edges: Ascension score 46.

In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Leon Draisaitl rates ahead, +12.6 to -5.1 in summed category z-scores.

Role trend over the last 5 games: Draisaitl is rising, ixG/60 1.97 (was 1.43); Bunting is steady, ixG/60 1.33 (was 0.61).

  • • Draisaitl, last 10 games (Oct 26–Nov 14): 6 G, 9 A, 4 PPP, 39 SOG.
  • • Bunting has played 10 of the Flyers' 17 games since Oct 10 (in and out of the lineup).
  • • Bunting, last 10 games (Oct 10–Nov 14): 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 14 SOG.

Edmonton Oilers · Philadelphia Flyers · Who should I start? · Compare other players

Fantasy value: your scoring

Leon Draisaitl

+12.6

category z-score total

Michael Bunting

-5.1

category z-score total

Under Standard (6 categories), Leon Draisaitl has the edge (Draisaitl wins 5, Bunting wins 1 of 6 categories).

Per-stat breakdown under Standard (6 categories)
CategoryDraisaitlBunting
Goals / game0.860.09
Assists / game0.950.09
Plus/minus / game1.00-0.45
Power-play points / game0.570.09
Shots on goal / game3.861.45
Hits / game0.290.64

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 scoring choice is shared with Who Should I Start: saved on this device, and on your account when you are signed in.

Head-to-head: Draisaitl vs Bunting

Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.

DraisaitlBunting
6Team record in 13 meetings7
15Points in those games4

Draisaitl 7G 8A, 40 SOG · Bunting 0G 4A, 18 SOG

0Hits on each other3

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

16:54 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27, from Draisaitl's side

Shot attempts
14–13
51.9%
Expected goals
0.8–0.5
60.0%
Goals
2–1

Games against each other

Games between Leon Draisaitl and Michael Bunting
DateScoreDraisaitlBunting
2026-11-11EDM 3–2 PHI0G 1A 4S0G 0A 1S
2026-03-12EDM 2–7 DAL0G 1A 0S0G 0A 2S
2026-01-13EDM 3–4 NSH1G 2A 4S0G 1A 2S
2026-01-06EDM 6–2 NSH1G 2A 3S0G 1A 1S
2025-01-09EDM 3–5 PIT2G 0A 7S0G 1A 1S
2024-10-25EDM 4–0 PIT1G 0A 3S0G 0A 0S
2024-03-10EDM 4–0 PIT0G 0A 3S0G 0A 4S
2023-12-06EDM 6–1 CAR0G 0A 1S0G 0A 2S
2023-11-22EDM 3–6 CAR0G 1A 2S0G 1A 0S
2023-03-11EDM 4–7 TOR1G 0A 4S0G 0A 0S
2023-03-01EDM 5–2 TOR0G 1A 1S0G 0A 0S
2022-01-05EDM 2–4 TOR1G 0A 5S0G 0A 3S

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.

DraisaitlBunting

Fantasy box score

Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs, Usage, Special teams & discipline, Luck & trend, NHL EDGE tracking continue below

Every stat, side by side (continued)

DraisaitlBunting

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

This week's schedule

Nov 9 to Nov 15. 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 cover the games left: Edgehalla's rest-of-season rates per game, adjusted for each opponent's scoring allowed, in ESPN default points.

Scored in ESPN default points (G 2, A 1, PPP 0.5, SHP 0.5, SOG 0.1, HIT 0.1, BLK 0.5). Use your league's scoring

Edmonton Oilers logo

Leon Draisaitl

4games (1 left)

3.2proj. ESPN default pts

  • Mon, Nov 9 vs NYR
    Opp allows 7th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Dylan Garand (.910)
  • Wed, Nov 11 vs PHI
    Opp allows 16th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Dan Vladar (.879)
  • Sat, Nov 14 @ TOR
    Opp allows 16th-most FP to CLikely vs Anthony Stolarz (.905)
  • Sun, Nov 15 @ PHIB2B3.2 pts
    Opp allows 16th-fewest FP to Cvs Dan Vladar (.879)
Philadelphia Flyers logo

Michael Bunting

4games (1 left)

0.7proj. ESPN default pts

  • Mon, Nov 9 @ VANB2B
    Opp allows the most FP to LWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Leevi Meriläinen (.885)
  • Wed, Nov 11 @ EDM
    Opp allows 9th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Tristan Jarry (.908)
  • Sat, Nov 14 @ CBJ
    Opp allows 13th-most FP to LWLikely vs Jet Greaves (.875)
  • Sun, Nov 15 vs EDMB2B0.7 pts
    Opp allows 9th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Tristan Jarry (.908)

Player data stories

How the game changed, told through the numbers.

All NHL data stories

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Leon Draisaitl or Michael Bunting in fantasy hockey?
In 2026-27, Leon Draisaitl scored 3.51 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Michael Bunting's 0.57. Draisaitl had 38 points in 21 games; Bunting had 2 in 11 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, Leon Draisaitl or Michael Bunting?
On 2026-27 numbers they split 1–1 across 2 stats where both qualify.
How have Draisaitl and Bunting done against each other?
In 13 games against each other in our data, Draisaitl's team went 6–7. Draisaitl had 15 points (7 goals) and Bunting had 4 (0 goals).

2026-27 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 →