Who to start · 2025-26
Aliaksei Protas vs Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins projects to 1.70 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Aliaksei Protas's 1.58.
Protas had 52 points in 76 games; Nugent-Hopkins had 56 in 72 games.
This week Protas has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Nugent-Hopkins has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Protas for 1.8 ESPN points to Nugent-Hopkins's 1.1.
Aliaksei Protas has the better number in 20 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Protas's biggest edges: Plus/minus +20, On-ice PDO 1016, 20+ mph bursts 168.
Nugent-Hopkins's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 46.0%, Power-play share 86.6%, Power-play time per game 3:30.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Aliaksei Protas
1.57
fantasy points per game
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
1.70
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has the edge.
| Points per game from | Protas | Nugent-Hopkins |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.66 | 0.56 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.36 | 0.50 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.20 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.21 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.28 | 0.22 |
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: Protas vs Nugent-Hopkins
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.
Protas 1G 5A, 13 SOG · Nugent-Hopkins 6G 6A, 17 SOG
Protas's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 0–0 · Protas's defensive zone 0–1 (2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Protas's side)
2:01 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Protas's side
- Shot attempts
- 0–2
- 0.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.0–0.3
- 0.0%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Protas | Nugent-Hopkins |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-24 | WSH 5–6 EDM | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-02-23 | WSH 7–3 EDM | 0G 3A 4S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2025-01-21 | WSH 3–2 EDM | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-11-24 | WSH 0–5 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 2A 2S |
| 2022-12-05 | WSH 3–2 EDM | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-11-07 | WSH 5–4 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 2G 0A 4S |
| 2022-02-02 | WSH 3–5 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 2G 1A 4S |
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.
Aliaksei Protas
2games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ CAROpp allows 9th-most FP to LWLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TBLB2B1.8 ptsOpp allows 6th-most FP to LWSchedule edge −13.3 win%vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
3games (1 left)
1.1proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VANOpp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.1 ptsOpp allows 6th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Aliaksei Protas or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins projects to 1.70 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Aliaksei Protas's 1.58. Protas had 52 points in 76 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, Aliaksei Protas or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Aliaksei Protas leads in 20 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Protas and Nugent-Hopkins done against each other?
- In 7 games against each other in our data, Protas's team went 4–3. Protas had 6 points (1 goals) and Nugent-Hopkins had 12 (6 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Protas or Nugent-Hopkins?
- Against each other, Protas 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 →