Who to start · 2025-26
Neal Pionk vs Sean Walker
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Sean Walker projects to 1.75 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Neal Pionk's 1.66.
Pionk had 12 points in 51 games; Walker had 31 in 81 games.
This week Pionk has 2 games left with 1 soft and 1 tough matchups; Walker has 2 left with 1 tough matchup. In ESPN default points scoring we project Pionk for 3.5 to Walker's 3.3 over the games left.
Sean Walker has the better number in 25 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Pionk's biggest edges: On-ice PDO 1017, Ascension score 85, Power-play time per game 1:35.
Walker's biggest edges: High-danger chances 57.2%, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.038, 20+ mph bursts 106.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Neal Pionk rates ahead, +3.7 to +2.5 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: Pionk is surging, 5 P in last 5 (0.30/GP before); Walker is steady, 2 P in last 5 (0.70/GP before).
- • 2026-27 so far: 9 GP, 1 G, 5 A, 1 PPP, 17 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 10 GP, 0 G, 6 A, 1 PPP, 14 SOG.
Winnipeg Jets · Carolina Hurricanes · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Neal Pionk
+3.7
category z-score total
Sean Walker
+2.5
category z-score total
Under Standard (6 categories), Neal Pionk has the edge (Pionk wins 5, Walker wins 1 of 6 categories).
| Category | Pionk | Walker |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.08 | 0.07 |
| Assists / game | 0.32 | 0.40 |
| Plus/minus / game | 0.05 | 0.00 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.07 | 0.05 |
| Shots on goal / game | 1.90 | 1.89 |
| Hits / game | 2.11 | 1.44 |
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 scoring choice is shared with Who Should I Start: saved on this device, and on your account when you are signed in.
Head-to-head: Pionk vs Walker
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2018-19 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Pionk 1G 5A, 31 SOG · Walker 0G 2A, 31 SOG
Pionk blocked 2 of Walker's shots; Walker blocked 2 of Pionk's.
On the ice against each other (Pionk's side)
15:21 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27, from Pionk's side
- Shot attempts
- 15–15
- 50.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.3
- 56.2%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Pionk | Walker |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-17 | WPG 2–3 CAR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-11-21 | WPG 3–4 CAR | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-03-09 | WPG 2–4 CAR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-02-04 | WPG 3–0 CAR | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-04-30 · PO | WPG 3–6 COL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-04-28 · PO | WPG 1–5 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-04-26 · PO | WPG 2–6 COL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-04-23 · PO | WPG 2–5 COL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-04-21 · PO | WPG 7–6 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-04-13 | WPG 7–0 COL | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-02-08 | WPG 1–4 PHI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-01-13 | WPG 0–2 PHI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
Latest 12 of 18 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
Oct 19 to Oct 25. 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 cover the games left: Edgehalla's rest-of-season rates per game, adjusted for each opponent's scoring allowed, in ESPN default points.
Scored in ESPN default points (G 2, A 1, PPP 0.5, SHP 0.5, SOG 0.1, HIT 0.1, BLK 0.5). Use your league's scoring
Neal Pionk
3games (2 left)
3.5proj. ESPN default pts
- Tue, Oct 20 @ STLOpp allows 11th-most FP to DLikely vs Joel Hofer (.910)
- Thu, Oct 22 @ DAL1.6 ptsOpp allows the fewest FP to DLikely vs Jake Oettinger (.899)
- Sun, Oct 25 vs MTL1.9 ptsOpp allows 6th-most FP to DLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Sean Walker
3games (2 left)
3.3proj. ESPN default pts
- Tue, Oct 20 @ VANOpp allows 5th-most FP to Dvs Leevi Meriläinen (.860)
- Thu, Oct 22 @ EDM1.6 pts
- Sat, Oct 24 @ STL1.8 ptsOpp allows 11th-most FP to DLikely vs Joel Hofer (.910)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Neal Pionk or Sean Walker in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Sean Walker projects to 1.75 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Neal Pionk's 1.66. Pionk had 12 points in 51 games; Walker had 31 in 81 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, Neal Pionk or Sean Walker?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Sean Walker leads in 25 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Pionk and Walker done against each other?
- In 18 games against each other in our data, Pionk's team went 4–14. Pionk had 6 points (1 goals) and Walker had 2 (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 →