Who to start · 2025-26
Mitch Marner 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 Mitch Marner's 1.88.
Marner had 80 points in 81 games; MacKinnon had 127 in 80 games.
This week Marner has 1 game left; MacKinnon has 1 left. We project MacKinnon for 3.2 ESPN points to Marner's 2.0.
Nathan MacKinnon has the better number in 29 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Marner's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.024, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.22, Blocked shots 46.
MacKinnon's biggest edges: Top skating speed 24.8, 20+ mph bursts 455, Transition attempts /60 1.83.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 5 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 8 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mitch Marner
1.88
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 | Marner | MacKinnon |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.52 | 1.49 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.67 | 0.87 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.16 | 0.21 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.21 | 0.46 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.03 | 0.09 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.28 | 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: Marner 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.
Marner 6G 12A, 38 SOG · MacKinnon 6G 16A, 71 SOG
Marner's offensive zone 0–2 · neutral 3–1 · Marner's defensive zone 1–0 (2019-20 to 2025-26)
Marner blocked 4 of MacKinnon's shots; MacKinnon blocked 4 of Marner's.
On the ice against each other (Marner's side)
39:55 at 5-on-5 over 7 games, 2025-26, from Marner's side
- Shot attempts
- 32–45
- 41.6%
- Expected goals
- 1.0–2.2
- 30.9%
- Goals
- 1–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Marner | MacKinnon |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-26 · PO | VGK 2–1 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-05-24 · PO | VGK 5–3 COL | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2026-05-22 · PO | VGK 3–1 COL | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-05-20 · PO | VGK 4–2 COL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2026-04-11 | VGK 3–2 COL | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2025-12-27 | VGK 5–6 COL | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 2A 9S |
| 2025-10-31 | VGK 2–4 COL | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-03-19 | TOR 2–1 COL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 6S |
| 2025-03-08 | TOR 4–7 COL | 2G 0A 4S | 2G 0A 3S |
| 2024-02-24 | TOR 4–3 COL | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 3A 2S |
| 2024-01-13 | TOR 3–5 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 5S |
| 2023-03-15 | TOR 1–2 COL | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
Latest 12 of 19 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.
Mitch Marner
3games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Tue, Sep 29 vs CHI
- Fri, Oct 2 vs ANA
- Sun, Oct 4 @ VAN2.0 pts
Nathan MacKinnon
2games (1 left)
3.2proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAK
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL3.2 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mitch Marner 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 Mitch Marner's 1.88. Marner had 80 points in 81 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, Mitch Marner or Nathan MacKinnon?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nathan MacKinnon leads in 29 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Marner and MacKinnon done against each other?
- In 19 games against each other in our data, Marner's team went 10–9. Marner had 18 points (6 goals) and MacKinnon had 22 (6 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Marner or MacKinnon?
- Against each other, Marner has won 4 and MacKinnon 3 of their 7 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 →