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Who to start · 2025-26

Sam Malinski vs Travis Sanheim

Sam MalinskiSam MalinskiAvalanche · DefencevsTravis SanheimTravis SanheimFlyers · Defence

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Travis Sanheim projects to 1.84 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Malinski's 1.44.

Malinski had 40 points in 82 games; Sanheim had 37 in 81 games.

This week Malinski has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Sanheim has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Sanheim for 2.1 ESPN points to Malinski's 1.1.

Sam Malinski has the better number in 20 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

Malinski's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.44, Corsi 59.0%, Offensive-zone time 44.5%.

Sanheim's biggest edges: Ice time per game 24:13, Ice-time share 39.5%, Goals above expected +2.8.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Sam Malinski

1.44

fantasy points per game

Travis Sanheim

1.84

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Travis Sanheim has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromMalinskiSanheim
Goals (+2)0.180.36
Assists (+1)0.370.34
Power-play points (+0.5)0.010.02
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.000.02
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.200.14
Hits (+0.1)0.050.05
Blocks (+0.5)0.640.92

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: Malinski vs Sanheim

Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2023-24 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.

MalinskiSanheim
4Team record in 6 meetings2
1Points in those games3

Malinski 0G 1A, 9 SOG · Sanheim 1G 2A, 8 SOG

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

13:04 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Malinski's side

Shot attempts
12–6
66.7%
Expected goals
0.2–0.2
57.5%
Goals
1–1

Games against each other

Games between Sam Malinski and Travis Sanheim
DateScoreMalinskiSanheim
2026-01-23COL 3–7 PHI0G 0A 2S0G 0A 0S
2025-12-07COL 3–2 PHI0G 0A 1S0G 0A 1S
2025-02-02COL 2–0 PHI0G 0A 1S0G 0A 0S
2024-11-18COL 3–2 PHI0G 0A 0S0G 1A 3S
2024-01-20COL 7–4 PHI0G 1A 2S0G 0A 3S
2023-12-09COL 2–5 PHI0G 0A 3S1G 1A 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.

MalinskiSanheim

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 Malinski

2games (1 left)

1.1proj. ESPN pts

  • Wed, Sep 30 vs LAK
    Opp allows 3rd-most FP to DLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs STL1.1 pts
    Opp allows 4th-fewest FP to DSchedule edge +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)

Travis Sanheim

3games (1 left)

2.1proj. ESPN pts

  • Wed, Sep 30 vs PIT
    Opp allows the fewest FP to DLikely vs Arturs Silovs (.888)
  • Thu, Oct 1 @ NJDB2B
    Opp allows 6th-most FP to DSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Jake Allen (.904)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs CAR2.1 pts
    Opp allows 10th-most FP to DSchedule edge +9.0 win%Likely vs Pyotr Kochetkov (.899)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Sam Malinski or Travis Sanheim in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Travis Sanheim projects to 1.84 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Malinski's 1.44. Malinski had 40 points in 82 games; Sanheim had 37 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, Sam Malinski or Travis Sanheim?
On 2025-26 numbers, Sam Malinski leads in 20 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
How have Malinski and Sanheim done against each other?
In 6 games against each other in our data, Malinski's team went 4–2. Malinski had 1 points (0 goals) and Sanheim had 3 (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 →