Who to start · 2025-26
Adrian Kempe vs Will Smith
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Adrian Kempe projects to 2.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Will Smith's 1.94.
Kempe had 73 points in 81 games; Smith had 59 in 69 games.
This week Kempe has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Smith has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Smith for 1.9 ESPN points to Kempe's 1.6.
Adrian Kempe has the better number in 23 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Kempe's biggest edges: Hits 127, Top skating speed 23.7, Blocked shots 39.
Smith's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.10, Ascension score 64, Forecheck xG /60 0.28.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Adrian Kempe
2.01
fantasy points per game
Will Smith
1.94
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Adrian Kempe has the edge.
| Points per game from | Kempe | Smith |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.83 | 0.90 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.43 | 0.54 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.07 | 0.15 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.28 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.16 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.23 | 0.08 |
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 Smith
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.
Kempe 3G 3A, 17 SOG · Smith 1G 3A, 6 SOG
On the ice against each other (Kempe's side)
3:15 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Kempe's side
- Shot attempts
- 2–4
- 33.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.0–0.1
- 0.0%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Kempe | Smith |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-20 | LAK 3–4 SJS | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-10-28 | LAK 4–3 SJS | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-03-30 | LAK 8–1 SJS | 2G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-11-25 | LAK 2–7 SJS | 0G 2A 4S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2024-10-29 | LAK 2–4 SJS | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
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 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)
Will Smith
2games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs FLAOpp allows 9th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Akira Schmid (.892)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs LAK1.9 ptsOpp allows the most FP to CSchedule edge +3.3 win%Likely vs Anton Forsberg (.910)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Adrian Kempe or Will Smith in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Adrian Kempe projects to 2.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Will Smith's 1.94. Kempe had 73 points in 81 games; Smith had 59 in 69 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 Will Smith?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Adrian Kempe leads in 23 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Kempe and Smith done against each other?
- In 5 games against each other in our data, Kempe's team went 2–3. Kempe had 6 points (3 goals) and Smith had 4 (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 →