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Who to start · 2025-26

Alex DeBrincat vs Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

Alex DeBrincatAlex DeBrincatRed Wings · Right wingvsRyan Nugent-HopkinsRyan Nugent-HopkinsOilers · Centre

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Alex DeBrincat projects to 2.20 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins's 1.70.

DeBrincat had 85 points in 82 games; Nugent-Hopkins had 56 in 72 games.

This week DeBrincat has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Nugent-Hopkins has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project DeBrincat for 2.3 ESPN points to Nugent-Hopkins's 1.1.

Alex DeBrincat has the better number in 17 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.

DeBrincat's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.060, Plus/minus +8, On-ice PDO 1010.

Nugent-Hopkins's biggest edges: Goals above expected +2.6, High-danger chances 54.8%, Offensive-zone start % 60.5%.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Alex DeBrincat

2.31

fantasy points per game

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

1.70

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Alex DeBrincat has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromDeBrincatNugent-Hopkins
Goals (+2)1.000.56
Assists (+1)0.540.50
Power-play points (+0.5)0.140.20
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.000.01
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.350.18
Hits (+0.1)0.050.03
Blocks (+0.5)0.240.22

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 Nugent-Hopkins

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.

DeBrincatNugent-Hopkins
8Team record in 19 meetings11
14Points in those games17

DeBrincat 8G 6A, 57 SOG · Nugent-Hopkins 7G 10A, 56 SOG

0Faceoffs against each other1

DeBrincat's offensive zone 0–1 · neutral 0–0 · DeBrincat's defensive zone 0–0 (2018-19)

1Hits on each other0
2Penalties drawn off the other0

On the ice against each other (DeBrincat's side)

11:47 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from DeBrincat's side

Shot attempts
17–11
60.7%
Expected goals
0.6–0.3
63.7%
Goals
0–0

Games against each other

Games between Alex DeBrincat and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
DateScoreDeBrincatNugent-Hopkins
2025-12-11DET 1–4 EDM0G 0A 3S0G 1A 1S
2025-10-19DET 4–2 EDM0G 0A 5S0G 0A 0S
2025-01-30DET 3–2 EDM0G 0A 1S0G 0A 2S
2024-10-27DET 2–3 EDM0G 0A 2S0G 0A 2S
2024-02-13DET 4–8 EDM1G 1A 4S2G 1A 3S
2024-01-11DET 2–3 EDM0G 0A 1S0G 1A 5S
2023-03-14OTT 3–6 EDM0G 1A 4S1G 1A 2S
2023-02-11OTT 3–6 EDM0G 1A 1S1G 0A 5S
2022-02-09CHI 4–1 EDM1G 2A 4S0G 0A 9S
2021-11-20CHI 2–5 EDM2G 0A 4S0G 0A 2S
2020-03-05CHI 4–3 EDM2G 0A 6S1G 0A 5S
2020-02-11CHI 3–5 EDM0G 0A 4S1G 1A 5S

Latest 12 of 19 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.

DeBrincatNugent-Hopkins

Fantasy box score

Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

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 NYR
    Opp allows 12th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Dylan Garand (.948)
  • Sun, Oct 4 vs WPG2.3 pts
    Opp allows 7th-most FP to RWLikely vs Stuart Skinner (.888)

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

3games (1 left)

1.1proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 vs VAN
    Opp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
  • Thu, Oct 1 @ VAN
    Opp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.1 pts
    Opp allows 6th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Alex DeBrincat or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Alex DeBrincat projects to 2.20 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins's 1.70. DeBrincat had 85 points in 82 games; Nugent-Hopkins had 56 in 72 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 Ryan Nugent-Hopkins?
On 2025-26 numbers, Alex DeBrincat leads in 17 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
How have DeBrincat and Nugent-Hopkins done against each other?
In 19 games against each other in our data, DeBrincat's team went 8–11. DeBrincat had 14 points (8 goals) and Nugent-Hopkins had 17 (7 goals).
Who wins more faceoffs, DeBrincat or Nugent-Hopkins?
Against each other, DeBrincat has won 0 and Nugent-Hopkins 1 of their 1 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 →