Who to start · 2025-26
Matvei Michkov vs Mitch Marner
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mitch Marner projects to 2.05 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Matvei Michkov's 1.51.
Michkov had 51 points in 81 games; Marner had 80 in 81 games.
This week Michkov has 2 games left with 1 soft matchup; Marner has 2 left with 1 soft matchup. In ESPN default points scoring we project Marner for 4.5 to Michkov's 3.7 over the games left.
Mitch Marner has the better number in 26 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Michkov's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.55, Penalty minutes 71, 20+ mph bursts 79.
Marner's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.22, Faceoffs won 150, Blocked shots 46.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Mitch Marner rates ahead, +5.3 to -0.3 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: Michkov is rising, ixG/60 1.66 (was 0.80); Marner is steady, 7 P in last 5 (0.80/GP before).
- • 2026-27 so far: 11 GP, 6 G, 1 A, 3 PPP, 14 SOG.
- • Last 10 games (Oct 1–Oct 19): 6 G, 1 A, 3 PPP, 13 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 11 GP, 2 G, 10 A, 5 PPP, 28 SOG.
- • Last 10 games (Oct 2–Oct 20): 2 G, 10 A, 5 PPP, 24 SOG.
Philadelphia Flyers · Vegas Golden Knights · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Matvei Michkov
-0.3
category z-score total
Mitch Marner
+5.3
category z-score total
Under Standard (6 categories), Mitch Marner has the edge (Michkov wins 1, Marner wins 5 of 6 categories).
| Category | Michkov | Marner |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.37 | 0.25 |
| Assists / game | 0.26 | 0.78 |
| Plus/minus / game | -0.27 | 0.04 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.20 | 0.36 |
| Shots on goal / game | 1.70 | 2.25 |
| Hits / game | 0.31 | 0.40 |
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: Michkov vs Marner
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2024-25 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Michkov 0G 1A, 15 SOG · Marner 0G 3A, 6 SOG
On the ice against each other (Michkov's side)
2:08 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Michkov's side
- Shot attempts
- 2–4
- 33.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.0–0.3
- 6.7%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Michkov | Marner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-19 | PHI 2–1 VGK | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-12-11 | PHI 2–3 VGK | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-03-25 | PHI 2–7 TOR | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-01-07 | PHI 2–3 TOR | 0G 0A 8S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2025-01-05 | PHI 2–3 TOR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
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 19 to Oct 25. 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
Matvei Michkov
3games (2 left)
3.7proj. ESPN default pts
- Mon, Oct 19 vs COLOpp allows 13th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Mackenzie Blackwood (.903)
- Wed, Oct 21 @ BUF1.9 pts
- Sat, Oct 24 vs ANA1.8 ptsOpp allows 13th-most FP to RWLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
Mitch Marner
3games (2 left)
4.5proj. ESPN default pts
- Tue, Oct 20 vs TBLOpp allows 9th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
- Thu, Oct 22 @ STL2.0 pts
- Sat, Oct 24 @ CBJ2.5 ptsOpp allows 4th-most FP to RWLikely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Matvei Michkov or Mitch Marner in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mitch Marner projects to 2.05 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Matvei Michkov's 1.51. Michkov had 51 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, Matvei Michkov or Mitch Marner?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mitch Marner leads in 26 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Michkov and Marner done against each other?
- In 5 games against each other in our data, Michkov's team went 1–4. Michkov had 1 points (0 goals) and Marner had 3 (0 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 →