Who to start · 2025-26
Anthony Mantha 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 Anthony Mantha's 1.67.
Mantha had 64 points in 81 games; Hughes had 77 in 61 games.
This week Mantha has 1 game left; Hughes has 1 left. We project Hughes for 2.3 ESPN points to Mantha's 1.4.
Jack Hughes has the better number in 24 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Mantha's biggest edges: On-ice PDO 1032, Hardest shot 96.0, Penalty minutes 43.
Hughes's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 −0.016, Corsi 55.9%, Scoring chances 56.0%.
- • 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
Anthony Mantha
1.67
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 | Mantha | Hughes |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.76 | 0.95 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.36 | 0.77 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.08 | 0.18 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.02 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.38 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.06 | 0.01 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.23 | 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: Mantha vs Hughes
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2019-20 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Mantha 1G 7A, 21 SOG · Hughes 5G 8A, 56 SOG
On the ice against each other (Mantha's side)
12:54 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Mantha's side
- Shot attempts
- 11–17
- 39.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.8
- 21.7%
- Goals
- 0–0
On the ice together
13:13 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2026-27
- Shot attempts
- 17–9
- 65.4%
- Expected goals
- 0.7–0.3
- 67.6%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Mantha | Hughes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-09 | PIT 5–2 NJD | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2026-02-26 | PIT 4–1 NJD | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2026-01-08 | PIT 4–1 NJD | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-11-08 | PIT 1–2 NJD | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2024-11-01 | CGY 3–0 NJD | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-03-17 | VGK 3–1 NJD | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-02-20 | WSH 6–2 NJD | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 7S |
| 2024-01-03 | WSH 3–6 NJD | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-10-25 | WSH 6–4 NJD | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 3A 4S |
| 2023-03-09 | WSH 2–3 NJD | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2022-11-26 | WSH 1–5 NJD | 0G 0A 2S | 3G 0A 4S |
| 2022-10-24 | WSH 6–3 NJD | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 5S |
Latest 12 of 16 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.
Anthony Mantha
2games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs PHIOpp allows 5th-most FP to RWSchedule edge +9.3 win%
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NYI1.4 ptsOpp allows 14th-most FP to RW
Jack Hughes
2games (1 left)
2.3proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs PHIOpp allows 7th-most FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NYI2.3 ptsOpp allows 15th-most FP to C
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Anthony Mantha 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 Anthony Mantha's 1.67. Mantha had 64 points in 81 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, Anthony Mantha or Jack Hughes?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Jack Hughes leads in 24 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Mantha and Hughes done against each other?
- In 16 games against each other in our data, Mantha's team went 9–7. Mantha had 8 points (1 goals) and Hughes had 13 (5 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 →