Who to start · 2025-26
Alexis Lafrenière 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 Alexis Lafrenière's 1.41.
Lafrenière had 57 points in 82 games; Schmaltz had 74 in 82 games.
This week Lafrenière has 1 game left; Schmaltz has 2 left. We project Schmaltz for 4.1 ESPN points to Lafrenière's 1.6.
Nick Schmaltz has the better number in 29 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Lafrenière's biggest edges: Hits 84, Transition attempts /60 1.38, High-danger chances 58.8%.
Schmaltz's biggest edges: Plus/minus +17, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.052, Faceoffs won 448.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Alexis Lafrenière
1.41
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 | Lafrenière | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.49 | 0.88 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.34 | 0.47 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.08 | 0.11 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.19 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.11 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.21 | 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: Lafrenière vs Schmaltz
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Lafrenière 4G 4A, 16 SOG · Schmaltz 0G 9A, 16 SOG
Lafrenière blocked 0 of Schmaltz's shots; Schmaltz blocked 1 of Lafrenière's.
On the ice against each other (Lafrenière's side)
10:24 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Lafrenière's side
- Shot attempts
- 12–9
- 57.1%
- Expected goals
- 1.1–0.4
- 71.6%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Lafrenière | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-05 | NYR 2–3 UTA | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2025-11-22 | NYR 2–3 UTA | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-01-16 | NYR 5–3 UTA | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2024-10-12 | NYR 5–6 UTA | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2024-03-30 | NYR 8–5 ARI | 3G 2A 4S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2023-10-16 | NYR 2–1 ARI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2022-01-22 | NYR 7–3 ARI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2021-12-15 | NYR 3–2 ARI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 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.
Alexis Lafrenière
4games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Tue, Sep 29 @ BOS
- Thu, Oct 1 vs TBL
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2B
- Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA1.6 pts
Nick Schmaltz
3games (2 left)
4.1proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs CHI
- Sat, Oct 3 @ CBJ2.0 pts
- Sun, Oct 4 @ NYRB2B2.0 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Alexis Lafrenière 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 Alexis Lafrenière's 1.41. Lafrenière had 57 points in 82 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, Alexis Lafrenière or Nick Schmaltz?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nick Schmaltz leads in 29 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Lafrenière and Schmaltz done against each other?
- In 8 games against each other in our data, Lafrenière's team went 5–3. Lafrenière had 8 points (4 goals) and Schmaltz had 9 (0 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 →