Who to start · 2025-26
Mikko Rantanen vs Nathan MacKinnon
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nathan MacKinnon projects to 3.32 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mikko Rantanen's 2.21.
Rantanen had 77 points in 64 games; MacKinnon had 127 in 80 games.
This week Rantanen has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; MacKinnon has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project MacKinnon for 2.2 ESPN points to Rantanen's 1.6.
Nathan MacKinnon has the better number in 28 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Rantanen's biggest edges: Ascension score 54, Penalty minutes 93, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.046.
MacKinnon's biggest edges: Corsi 57.6%, Goals above expected +4.3, Fenwick 56.0%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 8 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mikko Rantanen
2.21
fantasy points per game
Nathan MacKinnon
3.32
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nathan MacKinnon has the edge.
| Points per game from | Rantanen | MacKinnon |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.64 | 1.49 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.81 | 0.87 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.25 | 0.21 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.21 | 0.46 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.09 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.21 |
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: Rantanen vs MacKinnon
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.
Rantanen 5G 9A, 28 SOG · MacKinnon 9G 7A, 49 SOG
Rantanen's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 1–1 · Rantanen's defensive zone 0–1 (2024-25 to 2025-26)
Rantanen blocked 5 of MacKinnon's shots; MacKinnon blocked 1 of Rantanen's.
Goals each scored with the other picking up an assist (as teammates).
On the ice against each other (Rantanen's side)
13:01 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Rantanen's side
- Shot attempts
- 7–25
- 21.9%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.7
- 28.5%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Rantanen | MacKinnon |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-04 | DAL 0–2 COL | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-10-11 | DAL 5–4 COL | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 2A 4S |
| 2025-05-03 · PO | DAL 4–2 COL | 3G 1A 4S | 1G 0A 6S |
| 2025-05-01 · PO | DAL 4–7 COL | 1G 3A 2S | 1G 2A 2S |
| 2025-04-28 · PO | DAL 6–2 COL | 1G 2A 6S | 1G 1A 7S |
| 2025-04-26 · PO | DAL 0–4 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2025-04-23 · PO | DAL 2–1 COL | 0G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 9S |
| 2025-04-21 · PO | DAL 4–3 COL | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2025-04-19 · PO | DAL 1–5 COL | 0G 0A 3S | 2G 1A 7S |
| 2025-03-16 | DAL 3–4 COL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 4S |
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.
Mikko Rantanen
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs STLOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Joel Hofer (.910)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NSHB2B1.6 ptsOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge −13.3 win%Likely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
Nathan MacKinnon
2games (1 left)
2.2proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows the most FP to CLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL2.2 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mikko Rantanen or Nathan MacKinnon in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nathan MacKinnon projects to 3.32 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mikko Rantanen's 2.21. Rantanen had 77 points in 64 games; MacKinnon had 127 in 80 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, Mikko Rantanen or Nathan MacKinnon?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nathan MacKinnon leads in 28 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Rantanen and MacKinnon done against each other?
- In 10 games against each other in our data, Rantanen's team went 5–5. Rantanen had 14 points (5 goals) and MacKinnon had 16 (9 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Rantanen or MacKinnon?
- Against each other, Rantanen has won 1 and MacKinnon 2 of their 3 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 →