Who to start · 2025-26
Nathan MacKinnon vs Quinton Byfield
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nathan MacKinnon projects to 3.32 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Quinton Byfield's 1.57.
MacKinnon had 127 points in 80 games; Byfield had 49 in 79 games.
This week MacKinnon has 1 game left; Byfield has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project MacKinnon for 2.8 ESPN points to Byfield's 1.4.
Nathan MacKinnon has the better number in 29 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
MacKinnon's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 71.8%, On-ice PDO 1054, Forecheck xG /60 0.34.
Byfield's biggest edges: Ascension score 56, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.030, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.42.
Head to head on the dot, MacKinnon leads Byfield 36–25.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 8 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Nathan MacKinnon
3.32
fantasy points per game
Quinton Byfield
1.57
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nathan MacKinnon has the edge.
| Points per game from | MacKinnon | Byfield |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.49 | 0.57 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.87 | 0.30 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.21 | 0.07 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.46 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.09 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.21 | 0.32 |
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 Byfield
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
MacKinnon 10G 17A, 55 SOG · Byfield 3G 4A, 44 SOG
MacKinnon's offensive zone 15–10 · neutral 13–11 · MacKinnon's defensive zone 8–4 (2022-23 to 2026-27)
MacKinnon blocked 0 of Byfield's shots; Byfield blocked 1 of MacKinnon's.
On the ice against each other (MacKinnon's side)
50:50 at 5-on-5 over 7 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27, from MacKinnon's side
- Shot attempts
- 64–57
- 52.9%
- Expected goals
- 3.7–2.8
- 57.3%
- Goals
- 6–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | MacKinnon | Byfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-30 | COL 8–4 LAK | 2G 0A 8S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2026-04-26 · PO | COL 5–1 LAK | 2G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2026-04-23 · PO | COL 4–2 LAK | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2026-04-21 · PO | COL 2–1 LAK | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 6S |
| 2026-04-19 · PO | COL 2–1 LAK | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-12-29 | COL 5–2 LAK | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-10-07 | COL 4–1 LAK | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-03-27 | COL 4–0 LAK | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-11-13 | COL 4–2 LAK | 0G 3A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-12-03 | COL 1–4 LAK | 0G 1A 2S | 2G 0A 5S |
| 2023-10-11 | COL 5–2 LAK | 1G 2A 4S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2023-04-08 | COL 4–3 LAK | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
Latest 12 of 16 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)
Quinton Byfield
2games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ COLOpp allows 8th-most FP to RWLikely vs Mackenzie Blackwood (.903)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ SJS1.4 ptsOpp allows 7th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge −3.2 win%Likely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Nathan MacKinnon or Quinton Byfield 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 Quinton Byfield's 1.57. MacKinnon had 127 points in 80 games; Byfield had 49 in 79 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 Quinton Byfield?
- 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 MacKinnon and Byfield done against each other?
- In 16 games against each other in our data, MacKinnon's team went 14–2. MacKinnon had 27 points (10 goals) and Byfield had 7 (3 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, MacKinnon or Byfield?
- Against each other, MacKinnon has won 36 and Byfield 25 of their 61 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 →