Who to start · 2025-26
Nathan MacKinnon vs Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nathan MacKinnon projects to 3.32 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins's 1.70.
MacKinnon had 127 points in 80 games; Nugent-Hopkins had 56 in 72 games.
This week MacKinnon has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Nugent-Hopkins has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project MacKinnon for 2.2 ESPN points to Nugent-Hopkins's 1.1.
Nathan MacKinnon has the better number in 31 of the 35 stats both are ranked on.
MacKinnon's biggest edges: Plus/minus +57, On-ice PDO 1054, 20+ mph bursts 455.
Nugent-Hopkins's biggest edges: Shorthanded points 1, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.065, Power-play share 86.6%.
Head to head on the dot, MacKinnon leads Nugent-Hopkins 18–13.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 8 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Nathan MacKinnon
3.17
fantasy points per game
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
1.70
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nathan MacKinnon has the edge.
| Points per game from | MacKinnon | Nugent-Hopkins |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.32 | 0.56 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.93 | 0.50 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.19 | 0.20 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.44 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.22 |
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 Nugent-Hopkins
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2018-19 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
MacKinnon 13G 17A, 114 SOG · Nugent-Hopkins 9G 9A, 45 SOG
MacKinnon's offensive zone 10–6 · neutral 5–2 · MacKinnon's defensive zone 3–5 (2018-19 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (MacKinnon's side)
7:40 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from MacKinnon's side
- Shot attempts
- 13–3
- 81.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.2
- 69.8%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | MacKinnon | Nugent-Hopkins |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-13 | COL 2–1 EDM | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-03-10 | COL 3–4 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 2G 0A 2S |
| 2025-11-08 | COL 9–1 EDM | 2G 2A 6S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-02-07 | COL 5–4 EDM | 1G 3A 7S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2025-01-16 | COL 3–4 EDM | 2G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-11-30 | COL 1–4 EDM | 0G 0A 7S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2024-04-05 | COL 2–6 EDM | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-03-16 | COL 3–2 EDM | 0G 1A 6S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-04-11 | COL 1–2 EDM | 0G 0A 7S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-02-19 | COL 6–5 EDM | 1G 2A 9S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-01-07 | COL 3–2 EDM | 1G 1A 11S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-06-06 · PO | COL 6–5 EDM | 1G 0A 7S | 1G 0A 3S |
Latest 12 of 21 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)
2.2proj. 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 +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
3games (1 left)
1.1proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VANOpp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.1 ptsOpp allows 6th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Nathan MacKinnon or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins 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 Ryan Nugent-Hopkins's 1.70. MacKinnon had 127 points in 80 games; Nugent-Hopkins had 56 in 72 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 Ryan Nugent-Hopkins?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nathan MacKinnon leads in 31 of 35 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have MacKinnon and Nugent-Hopkins done against each other?
- In 21 games against each other in our data, MacKinnon's team went 13–8. MacKinnon had 30 points (13 goals) and Nugent-Hopkins had 18 (9 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, MacKinnon or Nugent-Hopkins?
- Against each other, MacKinnon has won 18 and Nugent-Hopkins 13 of their 31 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 →