Edgehalla

Who to start · 2025-26

Mika Zibanejad vs Sam Malinski

Mika ZibanejadMika ZibanejadRangers · CentrevsSam MalinskiSam MalinskiAvalanche · Defence

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mika Zibanejad projects to 2.27 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Malinski's 1.44.

Zibanejad had 78 points in 81 games; Malinski had 40 in 82 games.

This week Zibanejad has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Malinski has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Zibanejad for 1.4 ESPN points to Malinski's 1.1.

Mika Zibanejad has the better number in 20 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

Zibanejad's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 −0.001, Ice time per game 20:54, Ice-time share 34.4%.

Malinski's biggest edges: Plus/minus +43, Fenwick 58.7%, Transition attempts /60 0.77.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 6 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Mika Zibanejad

2.27

fantasy points per game

Sam Malinski

1.44

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Mika Zibanejad has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromZibanejadMalinski
Goals (+2)0.810.18
Assists (+1)0.510.37
Power-play points (+0.5)0.210.01
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.010.00
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.250.20
Hits (+0.1)0.140.05
Blocks (+0.5)0.340.64

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 custom weights are saved in this browser only.

Head-to-head: Zibanejad vs Malinski

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.

ZibanejadMalinski
0Team record in 4 meetings4
3Points in those games2

Zibanejad 0G 3A, 5 SOG · Malinski 0G 2A, 2 SOG

1Hits on each other0

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

10:27 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Zibanejad's side

Shot attempts
8–10
44.4%
Expected goals
0.5–1.5
25.8%
Goals
0–0

Games against each other

Games between Mika Zibanejad and Sam Malinski
DateScoreZibanejadMalinski
2025-12-06NYR 2–3 COL0G 1A 1S0G 1A 0S
2025-11-20NYR 3–6 COL0G 2A 0S0G 1A 1S
2025-01-26NYR 4–5 COL0G 0A 1S0G 0A 1S
2025-01-14NYR 2–3 COL0G 0A 3S0G 0A 0S

Every stat, side by side

Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.

ZibanejadMalinski

Fantasy box score

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

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

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.

Mika Zibanejad

4games (1 left)

1.4proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 @ BOS
    Opp allows 5th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
  • Thu, Oct 1 vs TBL
    Opp allows 11th-most FP to CLikely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
  • Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2B
    Opp allows 4th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs John Gibson (.901)
  • Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA1.4 pts
    Opp allows 2nd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)

Sam Malinski

2games (1 left)

1.1proj. ESPN pts

  • Wed, Sep 30 vs LAK
    Opp allows 3rd-most FP to DLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs STL1.1 pts
    Opp allows 4th-fewest FP to DSchedule edge +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Mika Zibanejad or Sam Malinski in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mika Zibanejad projects to 2.27 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Malinski's 1.44. Zibanejad had 78 points in 81 games; Malinski had 40 in 82 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, Mika Zibanejad or Sam Malinski?
On 2025-26 numbers, Mika Zibanejad leads in 20 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
How have Zibanejad and Malinski done against each other?
In 4 games against each other in our data, Zibanejad's team went 0–4. Zibanejad had 3 points (0 goals) and Malinski had 2 (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 →