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Who to start · 2025-26

Sam Bennett vs Sam Malinski

Sam BennettSam BennettPanthers · CentrevsSam MalinskiSam MalinskiAvalanche · Defence

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Sam Bennett projects to 1.74 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Malinski's 1.44.

Bennett had 58 points in 76 games; Malinski had 40 in 82 games.

This week Bennett has 1 game left; Malinski has 1 left. We project Bennett for 1.6 ESPN points to Malinski's 1.4.

Sam Bennett has the better number in 17 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

Bennett's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.018, Penalty minutes 82, Ice-time share 30.5%.

Malinski's biggest edges: Plus/minus +43, Transition attempts /60 0.77, Top skating speed 22.9.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Sam Bennett

1.74

fantasy points per game

Sam Malinski

1.44

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Sam Bennett has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromBennettMalinski
Goals (+2)0.600.18
Assists (+1)0.430.37
Power-play points (+0.5)0.090.01
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.000.00
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.250.20
Hits (+0.1)0.190.05
Blocks (+0.5)0.190.64

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: Bennett 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.

BennettMalinski
1Team record in 4 meetings3
1Points in those games2

Bennett 1G 0A, 8 SOG · Malinski 1G 1A, 6 SOG

1Hits on each other0
2Shots blocked by the other0

Bennett blocked 2 of Malinski's shots; Malinski blocked 0 of Bennett's.

On the ice against each other (Bennett's side)

6:46 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Bennett's side

Shot attempts
6–10
37.5%
Expected goals
0.5–0.5
51.3%
Goals
1–0

Games against each other

Games between Sam Bennett and Sam Malinski
DateScoreBennettMalinski
2026-01-04FLA 2–1 COL1G 0A 3S0G 0A 0S
2025-12-11FLA 2–6 COL0G 0A 0S1G 1A 3S
2025-01-06FLA 1–3 COL0G 0A 2S0G 0A 1S
2024-11-23FLA 4–7 COL0G 0A 3S0G 0A 2S

Every stat, side by side

Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.

BennettMalinski

Fantasy box score

Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

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.

Sam Bennett

3games (1 left)

1.6proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 @ CAR
    Opp allows 5th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
  • Thu, Oct 1 @ SJS
    Opp allows 11th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)
  • Sun, Oct 4 @ ANA1.6 pts
    Likely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)

Sam Malinski

2games (1 left)

1.4proj. ESPN pts

  • Wed, Sep 30 vs LAK
    Opp allows 3rd-most FP to DLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs STL1.4 pts
    Schedule edge +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Sam Bennett or Sam Malinski in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Sam Bennett projects to 1.74 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Malinski's 1.44. Bennett had 58 points in 76 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, Sam Bennett or Sam Malinski?
On 2025-26 numbers, Sam Bennett leads in 17 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
How have Bennett and Malinski done against each other?
In 4 games against each other in our data, Bennett's team went 1–3. Bennett had 1 points (1 goals) and Malinski had 2 (1 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 →