Who to start · 2025-26
Patrick Kane vs Sam Malinski
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Patrick Kane projects to 1.68 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Malinski's 1.44.
Kane had 57 points in 67 games; Malinski had 40 in 82 games.
This week Kane has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Malinski has 1 left. We project Kane for 1.6 ESPN points to Malinski's 1.4.
Sam Malinski has the better number in 18 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Kane's biggest edges: Ascension score 48, Ice time per game 17:42, Ice-time share 29.1%.
Malinski's biggest edges: Hardest shot 96.8, Luck Meter +47, Faceoffs won 0.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Patrick Kane
1.68
fantasy points per game
Sam Malinski
1.44
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Patrick Kane has the edge.
| Points per game from | Kane | Malinski |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.54 | 0.18 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.54 | 0.37 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.13 | 0.01 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.20 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.19 | 0.64 |
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: Kane vs Malinski
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.
Kane 0G 0A, 5 SOG · Malinski 0G 0A, 9 SOG
On the ice against each other (Kane's side)
10:15 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Kane's side
- Shot attempts
- 5–11
- 31.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.5
- 31.4%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Kane | Malinski |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-02 | DET 2–0 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-01-31 | DET 0–5 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-03-25 | DET 2–5 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-12-07 | DET 1–2 COL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
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.
Patrick Kane
3games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ VGKOpp allows 9th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Carter Hart (.891)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ UTAOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ BUF1.6 ptsOpp allows 3rd-most FP to RWSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.910)
Sam Malinski
2games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows 3rd-most FP to DLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL1.4 ptsSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Patrick Kane or Sam Malinski in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Patrick Kane projects to 1.68 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Malinski's 1.44. Kane had 57 points in 67 games; Malinski had 40 in 82 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, Patrick Kane or Sam Malinski?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Sam Malinski leads in 18 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Kane and Malinski done against each other?
- In 4 games against each other in our data, Kane's team went 1–3. Kane had 0 points (0 goals) and Malinski had 0 (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 →