Who to start · 2025-26
Martin Necas vs Mika Zibanejad
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Martin Necas projects to 2.40 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mika Zibanejad's 2.27.
Necas had 100 points in 78 games; Zibanejad had 78 in 81 games.
This week Necas has 1 game left; Zibanejad has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Necas for 2.1 ESPN points to Zibanejad's 1.4.
Martin Necas has the better number in 22 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Necas's biggest edges: Plus/minus +47, Top skating speed 23.9, Expected goals 56.8%.
Zibanejad's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 −0.001, Faceoffs won 574, Blocked shots 50.
Head to head on the dot, Zibanejad leads Necas 7–6.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Martin Necas
2.40
fantasy points per game
Mika Zibanejad
2.27
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Martin Necas has the edge.
| Points per game from | Necas | Zibanejad |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.91 | 0.81 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.81 | 0.51 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.14 | 0.21 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.27 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.11 | 0.14 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.16 | 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: Necas vs Zibanejad
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2018-19 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Necas 4G 17A, 67 SOG · Zibanejad 12G 21A, 70 SOG
Necas's offensive zone 5–4 · neutral 1–2 · Necas's defensive zone 0–1 (2018-19 to 2025-26)
Necas blocked 0 of Zibanejad's shots; Zibanejad blocked 2 of Necas's.
On the ice against each other (Necas's side)
6:07 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Necas's side
- Shot attempts
- 5–6
- 45.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.4
- 56.5%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Necas | Zibanejad |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-06 | COL 3–2 NYR | 0G 3A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-11-20 | COL 6–3 NYR | 0G 3A 3S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2025-01-26 | COL 5–4 NYR | 0G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-12-22 | CAR 3–1 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-11-27 | CAR 4–3 NYR | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-05-16 · PO | CAR 3–5 NYR | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-05-13 · PO | CAR 4–1 NYR | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-05-11 · PO | CAR 4–3 NYR | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-05-09 · PO | CAR 2–3 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-05-07 · PO | CAR 3–4 NYR | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 6S |
| 2024-05-05 · PO | CAR 3–4 NYR | 1G 0A 2S | 2G 1A 2S |
| 2024-03-12 | CAR 0–1 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
Latest 12 of 32 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.
Martin Necas
2games (1 left)
2.1proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows the most FP to CLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL2.1 ptsSchedule edge +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
Mika Zibanejad
4games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ BOSOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs TBLOpp allows 8th-most FP to CLikely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2BSchedule 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 Martin Necas or Mika Zibanejad in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Martin Necas projects to 2.40 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mika Zibanejad's 2.27. Necas had 100 points in 78 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, Martin Necas or Mika Zibanejad?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Martin Necas leads in 22 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Necas and Zibanejad done against each other?
- In 32 games against each other in our data, Necas's team went 15–17. Necas had 21 points (4 goals) and Zibanejad had 33 (12 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Necas or Zibanejad?
- Against each other, Necas has won 6 and Zibanejad 7 of their 13 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 →