Who to start · 2025-26
Artem Zub vs Jordan Spence
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Artem Zub projects to 1.55 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Jordan Spence's 1.16.
Zub had 30 points in 81 games; Spence had 31 in 73 games.
This week Zub has 3 games left with 1 soft matchup; Spence has 3 left with 1 soft matchup. In ESPN default points scoring we project Zub for 4.3 to Spence's 3.7 over the games left.
Jordan Spence has the better number in 18 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Zub's biggest edges: Blocked shots 120, Penalty minutes 57, Ascension score 41.
Spence's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 69.2%, 20+ mph bursts 47, Offensive-zone time 47.6%.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Artem Zub rates ahead, +0.8 to -0.5 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: Zub is steady, −3:00 TOI a game; Spence is falling, On-ice xGF/60 1.91 (was 3.38).
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 9 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 8 SOG.
Ottawa Senators · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Artem Zub
+0.8
category z-score total
Jordan Spence
-0.5
category z-score total
Under Standard (6 categories), Artem Zub has the edge (Zub wins 3, Spence wins 3 of 6 categories).
| Category | Zub | Spence |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.05 | 0.06 |
| Assists / game | 0.33 | 0.25 |
| Plus/minus / game | 0.36 | 0.09 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.00 | 0.03 |
| Shots on goal / game | 1.12 | 1.26 |
| Hits / game | 0.84 | 0.72 |
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 scoring choice is shared with Who Should I Start: saved on this device, and on your account when you are signed in.
Head-to-head: Zub vs Spence
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2023-24 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Zub 0G 1A, 3 SOG · Spence 0G 0A, 1 SOG
Goals each scored with the other picking up an assist (as teammates).
On the ice together
51:37 at 5-on-5 over 13 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27
- Shot attempts
- 41–45
- 47.7%
- Expected goals
- 2.7–1.6
- 62.9%
- Goals
- 2–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Zub | Spence |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-10-14 | OTT 8–7 LAK | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-03-07 | OTT 3–4 LAK | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
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
Chemistry as teammates
How their expected-goal share at 5v5 changed together vs apart (shrunk for sample size), and how closely their DraftKings points moved game to game (raw, that season only; for forward linemates the typical value is about .28).
| Season | 5v5 min together | xG% lift | xGF/60 lift | DK correlation (raw) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 OTT | 55 | −0.1 | +0.09 | – (too few games together) |
This week's schedule
Oct 19 to Oct 25. 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 cover the games left: Edgehalla's rest-of-season rates per game, adjusted for each opponent's scoring allowed, in ESPN default points.
Scored in ESPN default points (G 2, A 1, PPP 0.5, SHP 0.5, SOG 0.1, HIT 0.1, BLK 0.5). Use your league's scoring
Artem Zub
3games
4.3proj. ESPN default pts
- Wed, Oct 21 vs FLA1.4 ptsOpp allows 14th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Akira Schmid (.892)
- Sat, Oct 24 vs NYR1.4 ptsOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Dylan Garand (.948)
Jordan Spence
3games
3.7proj. ESPN default pts
- Wed, Oct 21 vs FLA1.2 ptsOpp allows 14th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Akira Schmid (.892)
- Sat, Oct 24 vs NYR1.2 ptsOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Dylan Garand (.948)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Artem Zub or Jordan Spence in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Artem Zub projects to 1.55 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Jordan Spence's 1.16. Zub had 30 points in 81 games; Spence had 31 in 73 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, Artem Zub or Jordan Spence?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Jordan Spence leads in 18 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Zub and Spence done against each other?
- In 2 games against each other in our data, Zub's team went 1–1. Zub had 1 points (0 goals) and Spence had 0 (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 →