Who to start · 2025-26
Bowen Byram 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 Bowen Byram's 1.37.
Byram had 42 points in 82 games; Nugent-Hopkins had 56 in 72 games.
This week Byram has 1 game left; Nugent-Hopkins has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Byram for 2.0 ESPN points to Nugent-Hopkins's 1.1.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has the better number in 18 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Byram's biggest edges: Plus/minus +15, 20+ mph bursts 107, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.046.
Nugent-Hopkins's biggest edges: Goals above expected +2.6, Forecheck xG /60 0.34, High-danger chances 54.8%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Bowen Byram
1.46
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 | Byram | Nugent-Hopkins |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.27 | 0.56 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 0.50 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.04 | 0.20 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.13 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.06 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.57 | 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: Byram 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.
Byram 0G 4A, 19 SOG · Nugent-Hopkins 4G 5A, 34 SOG
Byram blocked 5 of Nugent-Hopkins's shots; Nugent-Hopkins blocked 0 of Byram's.
On the ice against each other (Byram's side)
5:53 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Byram's side
- Shot attempts
- 5–8
- 38.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.3
- 46.8%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Byram | Nugent-Hopkins |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-09 | BUF 4–3 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-03-10 | BUF 3–2 EDM | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-01-25 | BUF 2–3 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 2G 0A 4S |
| 2024-03-21 | BUF 3–8 EDM | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2024-03-09 | BUF 3–2 EDM | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-04-11 | COL 1–2 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-02-19 | COL 6–5 EDM | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-06-06 · PO | COL 6–5 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2022-06-04 · PO | COL 4–2 EDM | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-06-02 · PO | COL 4–0 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-05-31 · PO | COL 8–6 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2022-04-22 | COL 3–6 EDM | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
Latest 12 of 13 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.
Bowen Byram
3games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ VGKOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Carter Hart (.891)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ UTAOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to DLikely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ BUF2.0 ptsOpp allows 11th-most FP to DSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.910)
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 Bowen Byram 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 Bowen Byram's 1.37. Byram had 42 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, Bowen Byram or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins leads in 18 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Byram and Nugent-Hopkins done against each other?
- In 13 games against each other in our data, Byram's team went 9–4. Byram had 4 points (0 goals) and Nugent-Hopkins had 9 (4 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 →