Welcome to a new feature here on the The Hockey Fanatic. We are starting the first of what is hopefully many head-to-head player comparisons that we are calling “Hockey Fanatic Head-to-Head”. with the help of NHL Edge Stats, the Hockey Fanatic will compare two players or two goalies in a head-to-head match to see which players are the elite of the elite.

Have some players that you would like to see compared? Drop us a line on the socials, preferably on X at @hockeyfanatics.

With that lets kick it off with an epic matchup: Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers vs. Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche.

Hockey Fanatic Head-to-Head: McDavid vs. MacKinnon

Two absolutely elite players. Both have won the Hart trophy as the league’s most valuable player. Both are the drivers of their respective team and both a fierce competitors on the ice. Hockey fans love these players, some like one or the other, true hockey fans admire both… and why shouldn’t we? Nathan MacKinnon and Connor McDavid are two world class hockey players and definitely future hall of famers.

Let’s begin with an early season look at the two players. Here’s the tail of the tape:

Both players are off to an excellent start to the 2026-2027 NHL regular season. However, McDavid is off to an absolutely blistering start to the point that he is actually challenging Wayne Gretzky’s mark for single season points at 215. At the time of this writing, Connor McDavid is one pace for a whopping 234 points.

Initial comparison items:

• both players are speedy centremen
• MacKinnon is the senior of the two at the age of 31 while Davo won’t turn 30 until January 2027
• both play with highly offensive D-men with MacKinnon playing with Cale Makar in Colorado and McDavid playing with Evan Bouchard in Edmonton
• Connor McDavid is a left-hand shot while Nathan MacKinnon shoots right.
• both players are tremendous fans of Sidney Crosby
• both play in the Western Conference for two Cup Contending teams
• Nathan MacKinnon has a Stanley Cup ring; Connor McDavid does not… yet.

Let’s compare some fundamental stats between the two highly skilled players.

In terms of shot speed, the edge goes to Nathan MacKinnon. Listed at six feet and 200 pounds, MacKinnon’s average shot speed of 61.67 mph is 22.6% harder than McDavid’s. MacKinnon has had 6 80-90 mph shots, McDavid has yet to record a shot harder than 78.60 mph.

Winner of the hardest shot: Nathan MacKinnon

Both are elite skaters, but when it comes to skating speed the max speed of each player is pretty even with both players clocking in with their max speed of 24.01 mph. However the edge goes to Connor McDavid as a result of his quick acceleration and speed bursts. in terms of 22+ mph speed bursts, McDavid has used these bursts 11.5% more than MacKinnon. in terms of 20-22 mph speed bursts McDavid has used these 17.6% more than MacKinnon and in terms of 18-20 mph speed bursts, McDavid uses these quick little jaunts 56% more than MacKinnon.

Winner of skating speed/best use of skating speed: Connor McDavid

Sticking with skating, we look at the distance each player skated per game. One could argue that the player with the lower skating distance is more efficient, however it comes down to opponent and intangibles such as specialty teams, whether their team is leading or trailing in a given period, and average time on ice.

Thus far through thirteen games this season, Connor McDavid is averaging 23:30 minutes per game. Nathan MacKinnon is averaging 20:45, nearly three minutes less per game than McDavid. Depending on the opponent the average time on ice is closer when the teams play against the same teams. As an example when the Avalanche played the Calgary Flames, MacKinnon played 18:42. When the Oilers played the Flames, McDavid’s ice time was 18:50.

Connor McDavid skates an average of 10.47 miles per 60 minutes compared to Nathan MacKinnon at 9.30 miles per 60 minutes.

• Most miles skated per game: McDavid: 4.66 vs. MacKinnon: 4.25
• Most miles skated per period: McDavid 1.77 vs. MacKinnon 1.44

Winner of Skating Resilience: Connor McDavid

Let’s compare sot efficiency. Through thirteen games this season, Nathan MacKinnon has taken 52 shots compared to McDavid’s 33. That is 58% more shots than McDavid. However that includes long range shots where MacKinnon is out-shooting McDavid 9-1. Overall though MacKinnon is still out-shooting McDavid in the High-Danger and mid-range areas by nearly 17%.

Winner of Shooting Efficiency: Nathan MacKinnon

Keeping with the shooting theme, let’s look at where both players are scoring their goals from. McDavid gets the slight edge here as he scores more of his goals from the high-danger and mid-range areas of the ice.

Winner of Goal Proficiency: While it’s close and still early in the season, we are giving a slight edge to Connor McDavid due to his propensity to score from high-danger areas of the ice.

Finally let’s look at zone time for each of the players. Now of course this metric can be perceived in different ways for different players. How much time spent in the offensive zone is a strong indicator of puck possession and putting pressure on the opposing team’s defense and net-minders. While time spent in the defensive zone might be an indication of the ability to defend against other teams offensive threats or conversely the inability to obtain puck possession and generate offense.

Again another close one between the two players, but given the fact that these players are highly offensive and given the pace of points being put up by McDavid to start the season, there is something to be said for the amount of time spent in the offensive zone and not in your own end.

Winner of Zone time proficiency: Connor McDavid.

Head-To-Head Summary: McDavid vs. MacKinnon

Ok this was a very close one in terms of the metrics being compared. We all know how great of players Nathan MacKinnon and Connor McDavid are, but there is one clear winner here. The winner of the inaugural Hockey Fanatic Head-to-Head Summary is Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers. This guy is simply on another playing field that all other NHL skaters. He is arguably the best hockey player in the world and for our money probably the most advanced hockey player that we have ever witnessed to this point. The fact that his is challenging for a 200 point season is mind boggling.

Ok we know we are only a month into the season, but Connor McDavid is breaking records that nobody thought would be broken. My son, an excellent hockey player in his own right, was watching an Oilers game with me the other day and made the comment that “… could you image if Connor McDavid played in Wayne Gretzky’s era? He would have 400 points.” Well that might just be true. It’s hard to believe that Connor McDavid gets overlooked for the Hart trophy, like last season, yet his peers voted him most valuable player in the league. The players know. They play against him every few nights. Connor McDavid is electrifying, as is Nathan Mackinnon, but Connor McDavid is on a level unto himself.