Who to start · 2025-26
Nathan MacKinnon vs Quinn Hughes
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nathan MacKinnon projects to 3.32 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Quinn Hughes's 2.16.
MacKinnon had 127 points in 80 games; Hughes had 76 in 74 games.
This week MacKinnon has 1 game left; Hughes has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project MacKinnon for 2.8 ESPN points to Hughes's 1.7.
Nathan MacKinnon has the better number in 23 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
MacKinnon's biggest edges: Goals above expected +3.0, Luck Meter +48, Plus/minus +57.
Hughes's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.47, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.064, Ascension score 57.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 8 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Nathan MacKinnon
3.32
fantasy points per game
Quinn Hughes
2.16
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nathan MacKinnon has the edge.
| Points per game from | MacKinnon | Hughes |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.49 | 0.18 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.87 | 0.94 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.21 | 0.22 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.46 | 0.27 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.09 | 0.01 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.21 | 0.55 |
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: MacKinnon vs Hughes
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2019-20 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
MacKinnon 15G 19A, 112 SOG · Hughes 2G 13A, 41 SOG
MacKinnon blocked 0 of Hughes's shots; Hughes blocked 1 of MacKinnon's.
On the ice against each other (MacKinnon's side)
92:01 at 5-on-5 over 10 games, 2025-26, from MacKinnon's side
- Shot attempts
- 112–89
- 55.7%
- Expected goals
- 4.8–2.5
- 65.4%
- Goals
- 6–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | MacKinnon | Hughes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-13 · PO | COL 4–3 MIN | 1G 0A 9S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2026-05-11 · PO | COL 5–2 MIN | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2026-05-09 · PO | COL 1–5 MIN | 1G 0A 4S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2026-05-05 · PO | COL 5–2 MIN | 1G 2A 5S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2026-05-03 · PO | COL 9–6 MIN | 1G 2A 4S | 1G 2A 2S |
| 2026-03-08 | COL 3–2 MIN | 1G 0A 9S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2026-02-26 | COL 2–5 MIN | 0G 2A 8S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2025-12-21 | COL 5–1 MIN | 2G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-12-02 | COL 3–1 VAN | 2G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-11-09 | COL 5–4 VAN | 2G 3A 4S | 0G 1A 7S |
| 2024-12-16 | COL 1–3 VAN | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-03-13 | COL 4–3 VAN | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
Latest 12 of 20 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.
Nathan MacKinnon
2games (1 left)
2.8proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows the most FP to CLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL2.8 ptsSchedule edge +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
Quinn Hughes
2games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NSHOpp allows 11th-most FP to DLikely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs BOS1.7 ptsOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to DSchedule edge +12.8 win%Likely vs Michael DiPietro (1.000)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Nathan MacKinnon or Quinn Hughes 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 Quinn Hughes's 2.16. MacKinnon had 127 points in 80 games; Hughes had 76 in 74 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, Nathan MacKinnon or Quinn Hughes?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nathan MacKinnon leads in 23 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have MacKinnon and Hughes done against each other?
- In 20 games against each other in our data, MacKinnon's team went 13–7. MacKinnon had 34 points (15 goals) and Hughes had 15 (2 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 →