Who to start · 2025-26
Adrian Kempe vs Nick Schmaltz
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nick Schmaltz projects to 2.05 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Adrian Kempe's 2.01.
Kempe had 73 points in 81 games; Schmaltz had 74 in 82 games.
This week Kempe has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Schmaltz has 2 left. We project Schmaltz for 3.1 ESPN points to Kempe's 1.6.
Nick Schmaltz has the better number in 22 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Kempe's biggest edges: Hits 127, Transition attempts /60 1.93, Penalty minutes 58.
Schmaltz's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.26, High-danger chances 53.6%, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.052.
Head to head on the dot, Schmaltz leads Kempe 8–7.
- • 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, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Adrian Kempe
2.01
fantasy points per game
Nick Schmaltz
2.05
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nick Schmaltz has the edge.
| Points per game from | Kempe | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.83 | 0.88 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.43 | 0.47 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.07 | 0.11 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.28 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.16 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.23 | 0.30 |
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 Schmaltz
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Kempe 7G 16A, 52 SOG · Schmaltz 7G 10A, 53 SOG
Kempe's offensive zone 2–3 · neutral 2–5 · Kempe's defensive zone 3–0 (2017-18 to 2019-20)
Kempe blocked 0 of Schmaltz's shots; Schmaltz blocked 1 of Kempe's.
On the ice against each other (Kempe's side)
9:34 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Kempe's side
- Shot attempts
- 10–2
- 83.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.0
- 100.0%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Kempe | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-28 | LAK 2–6 UTA | 1G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2026-03-22 | LAK 3–4 UTA | 0G 0A 1S | 2G 0A 7S |
| 2025-12-08 | LAK 4–2 UTA | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-04-03 | LAK 4–2 UTA | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-02-22 | LAK 5–3 UTA | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2024-10-26 | LAK 3–2 UTA | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-11-20 | LAK 4–1 ARI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-10-27 | LAK 5–4 ARI | 0G 2A 7S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2023-10-24 | LAK 6–3 ARI | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-02-18 | LAK 6–5 ARI | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-12-23 | LAK 1–2 ARI | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2022-12-01 | LAK 5–3 ARI | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
Latest 12 of 29 meetings.
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 10th-most FP to RWLikely vs Mackenzie Blackwood (.903)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ SJS1.6 ptsOpp allows 7th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge −3.2 win%Likely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)
Nick Schmaltz
3games (2 left)
3.1proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs CHIOpp allows 8th-most FP to CLikely vs Arvid Soderblom (.880)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ CBJ1.7 ptsOpp allows 16th-most FP to CSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ NYRB2B1.4 ptsOpp allows 15th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Adrian Kempe or Nick Schmaltz in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nick Schmaltz projects to 2.05 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Adrian Kempe's 2.01. Kempe had 73 points in 81 games; Schmaltz had 74 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, Adrian Kempe or Nick Schmaltz?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nick Schmaltz leads in 22 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 Schmaltz done against each other?
- In 29 games against each other in our data, Kempe's team went 19–10. Kempe had 23 points (7 goals) and Schmaltz had 17 (7 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Kempe or Schmaltz?
- Against each other, Kempe has won 7 and Schmaltz 8 of their 15 head-to-head draws.
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 →