Who to start · 2025-26
Adrian Kempe vs Jack Hughes
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jack Hughes projects to 2.55 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Adrian Kempe's 2.01.
Kempe had 73 points in 81 games; Hughes had 77 in 61 games.
This week Kempe has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Hughes has 1 left. We project Hughes for 2.4 ESPN points to Kempe's 1.6.
Jack Hughes has the better number in 20 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Kempe's biggest edges: Hits 127, Penalty minutes 58, On-ice PDO 1027.
Hughes's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.55, Forecheck xG /60 0.33, High-danger chances 53.6%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Adrian Kempe
2.01
fantasy points per game
Jack Hughes
2.55
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Jack Hughes has the edge.
| Points per game from | Kempe | Hughes |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.83 | 0.95 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.43 | 0.77 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.07 | 0.18 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.02 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.28 | 0.38 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.16 | 0.01 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.23 | 0.25 |
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: Kempe vs Hughes
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2019-20 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Kempe 2G 4A, 22 SOG · Hughes 2G 8A, 33 SOG
On the ice against each other (Kempe's side)
12:02 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Kempe's side
- Shot attempts
- 8–16
- 33.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.6
- 37.5%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Kempe | Hughes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-14 | LAK 4–6 NJD | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-11-01 | LAK 1–4 NJD | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-01-01 | LAK 3–0 NJD | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-12-12 | LAK 1–3 NJD | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 2A 2S |
| 2024-02-15 | LAK 2–1 NJD | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 6S |
| 2023-02-23 | LAK 3–4 NJD | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2023-01-14 | LAK 2–5 NJD | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2022-01-23 | LAK 3–2 NJD | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2020-02-29 | LAK 2–1 NJD | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2020-02-08 | LAK 0–3 NJD | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 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.
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.
Adrian Kempe
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ COLOpp allows 8th-most FP to RW
- Sat, Oct 3 @ SJS1.6 ptsOpp allows 7th-fewest FP to RW
Jack Hughes
2games (1 left)
2.4proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs PHIOpp allows 5th-most FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NYI2.4 ptsOpp allows 13th-most FP to C
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Adrian Kempe or Jack Hughes in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jack Hughes projects to 2.55 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Adrian Kempe's 2.01. Kempe had 73 points in 81 games; Hughes had 77 in 61 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, Adrian Kempe or Jack Hughes?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Jack Hughes leads in 20 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Kempe and Hughes done against each other?
- In 10 games against each other in our data, Kempe's team went 4–6. Kempe had 6 points (2 goals) and Hughes had 10 (2 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 →