Who to start · 2025-26
Alex DeBrincat 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 Alex DeBrincat's 2.20.
DeBrincat had 85 points in 82 games; Hughes had 77 in 61 games.
This week DeBrincat has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Hughes has 1 left. We project DeBrincat for 2.3 ESPN points to Hughes's 2.3.
Jack Hughes has the better number in 17 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
DeBrincat's biggest edges: On-ice PDO 1010, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.060, Hardest shot 88.1.
Hughes's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 79.3%, Scoring chances 56.0%, Ascension score 51.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Alex DeBrincat
2.20
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 | DeBrincat | Hughes |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.94 | 0.95 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.77 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.13 | 0.18 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.02 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.33 | 0.38 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.01 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 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: DeBrincat 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.
DeBrincat 4G 7A, 36 SOG · Hughes 9G 9A, 51 SOG
DeBrincat blocked 0 of Hughes's shots; Hughes blocked 1 of DeBrincat's.
On the ice against each other (DeBrincat's side)
9:52 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from DeBrincat's side
- Shot attempts
- 3–16
- 15.8%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.7
- 6.8%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | DeBrincat | Hughes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-11 | DET 3–5 NJD | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2026-03-08 | DET 3–0 NJD | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-11-29 | DET 4–5 NJD | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2024-10-24 | DET 5–3 NJD | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 8S |
| 2023-12-23 | DET 2–3 NJD | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-11-22 | DET 4–0 NJD | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-10-12 | DET 3–4 NJD | 1G 0A 2S | 2G 0A 4S |
| 2023-03-25 | OTT 3–5 NJD | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 1A 6S |
| 2022-11-19 | OTT 1–5 NJD | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-11-10 | OTT 3–4 NJD | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 4S |
| 2022-02-25 | CHI 8–5 NJD | 0G 3A 5S | 1G 2A 5S |
| 2021-10-15 | CHI 3–4 NJD | 1G 0A 2S | 2G 0A 3S |
Latest 12 of 14 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.
Alex DeBrincat
2games (1 left)
2.3proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs NYROpp allows 12th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Dylan Garand (.948)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs WPG2.3 ptsOpp allows 7th-most FP to RWLikely vs Stuart Skinner (.888)
Jack Hughes
2games (1 left)
2.3proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs PHIOpp allows 7th-most FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Joseph Woll (.899)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NYI2.3 ptsOpp allows 15th-most FP to CSchedule edge −4.0 win%vs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Alex DeBrincat 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 Alex DeBrincat's 2.20. DeBrincat had 85 points in 82 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, Alex DeBrincat or Jack Hughes?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Jack Hughes leads in 17 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have DeBrincat and Hughes done against each other?
- In 14 games against each other in our data, DeBrincat's team went 5–9. DeBrincat had 11 points (4 goals) and Hughes had 18 (9 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 →