Who to start · 2025-26
Nathan MacKinnon vs Will Smith
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nathan MacKinnon projects to 3.32 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Will Smith's 1.87.
MacKinnon had 127 points in 80 games; Smith had 59 in 69 games.
This week MacKinnon has no games left; Smith has no games left.
Nathan MacKinnon has the better number in 29 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
MacKinnon's biggest edges: High-danger chances 54.8%, Top skating speed 24.8, Faceoffs won 681.
Smith's biggest edges: Ascension score 70, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.039, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.10.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 2 G, 3 A, 1 PPP, 12 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 5 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Nathan MacKinnon
3.32
fantasy points per game
Will Smith
1.87
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nathan MacKinnon has the edge.
| Points per game from | MacKinnon | Smith |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.40 | 0.85 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.99 | 0.51 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.19 | 0.14 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.46 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.19 | 0.11 |
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 Smith
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2024-25 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
MacKinnon 4G 10A, 27 SOG · Smith 0G 1A, 14 SOG
On the ice against each other (MacKinnon's side)
10:47 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from MacKinnon's side
- Shot attempts
- 21–9
- 70.0%
- Expected goals
- 2.7–0.2
- 93.5%
- Goals
- 3–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | MacKinnon | Smith |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-04 | COL 4–2 SJS | 0G 2A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-11-26 | COL 6–0 SJS | 1G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-11-01 | COL 2–3 SJS | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-03-06 | COL 7–3 SJS | 2G 3A 8S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-12-19 | COL 4–2 SJS | 0G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2024-10-20 | COL 4–1 SJS | 0G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
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 (0 left)
0.0proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows the most FP to CLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STLOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
Will Smith
2games (0 left)
0.0proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs FLAOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Akira Schmid (.892)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs LAKOpp allows the most FP to CLikely vs Anton Forsberg (.910)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Nathan MacKinnon or Will Smith 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 Will Smith's 1.87. MacKinnon had 127 points in 80 games; Smith had 59 in 69 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 Will Smith?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nathan MacKinnon leads in 29 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 Smith done against each other?
- In 6 games against each other in our data, MacKinnon's team went 5–1. MacKinnon had 14 points (4 goals) and Smith had 1 (0 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 →