Who to start · 2025-26
Neal Pionk vs Shea Theodore
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Neal Pionk projects to 1.66 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Shea Theodore's 1.52.
Pionk had 12 points in 51 games; Theodore had 39 in 70 games.
This week Pionk has 2 games left with 1 soft and 1 tough matchups; Theodore has 2 left. In ESPN default points scoring we project Pionk for 3.5 to Theodore's 3.1 over the games left.
Shea Theodore has the better number in 23 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Pionk's biggest edges: Hits 111, Ascension score 85, On-ice PDO 1017.
Theodore's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 −0.016, High-danger chances 57.3%, Expected goals 57.4%.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Shea Theodore rates ahead, +4.5 to +3.7 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: Pionk is surging, 5 P in last 5 (0.30/GP before); Theodore is cooling, 1 P in last 5 (0.55/GP before).
- • 2026-27 so far: 9 GP, 1 G, 5 A, 1 PPP, 17 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 11 GP, 2 G, 2 A, 1 PPP, 23 SOG.
- • Last 10 games (Oct 2–Oct 20): 2 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 22 SOG.
Winnipeg Jets · Vegas Golden Knights · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Neal Pionk
+3.7
category z-score total
Shea Theodore
+4.5
category z-score total
Under Standard (6 categories), Shea Theodore has the edge (Pionk wins 2, Theodore wins 4 of 6 categories).
| Category | Pionk | Theodore |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.08 | 0.16 |
| Assists / game | 0.32 | 0.32 |
| Plus/minus / game | 0.05 | 0.58 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.07 | 0.08 |
| Shots on goal / game | 1.90 | 1.96 |
| Hits / game | 2.11 | 0.02 |
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 Theodore
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.
Pionk 3G 11A, 37 SOG · Theodore 0G 13A, 35 SOG
Pionk blocked 1 of Theodore's shots; Theodore blocked 0 of Pionk's.
On the ice against each other (Pionk's side)
4:47 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Pionk's side
- Shot attempts
- 3–5
- 37.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.1
- 73.9%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Pionk | Theodore |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-24 | WPG 4–1 VGK | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-12-12 | WPG 2–3 VGK | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2024-11-29 | WPG 3–4 VGK | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-03-28 | WPG 1–4 VGK | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-11-02 | WPG 2–5 VGK | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-10-19 | WPG 3–5 VGK | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 3A 1S |
| 2023-04-24 · PO | WPG 2–4 VGK | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2023-04-22 · PO | WPG 4–5 VGK | 0G 3A 4S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-04-20 · PO | WPG 2–5 VGK | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-04-18 · PO | WPG 5–1 VGK | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-10-30 | WPG 1–2 VGK | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-10-20 | WPG 2–5 VGK | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
Latest 12 of 19 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)
Shea Theodore
3games (2 left)
3.1proj. ESPN default pts
- Tue, Oct 20 vs TBLOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
- Thu, Oct 22 @ STL1.6 pts
- Sat, Oct 24 @ CBJ1.5 ptsOpp allows 13th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Neal Pionk or Shea Theodore in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Neal Pionk projects to 1.66 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Shea Theodore's 1.52. Pionk had 12 points in 51 games; Theodore had 39 in 70 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 Shea Theodore?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Shea Theodore 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 Pionk and Theodore done against each other?
- In 19 games against each other in our data, Pionk's team went 7–12. Pionk had 14 points (3 goals) and Theodore had 13 (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 →