Who to start · 2025-26
Braden Schneider vs Will Smith
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Will Smith projects to 1.94 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Braden Schneider's 1.37.
Schneider had 18 points in 82 games; Smith had 59 in 69 games.
This week Schneider has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Smith has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Smith for 1.9 ESPN points to Schneider's 1.2.
Will Smith has the better number in 25 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Schneider's biggest edges: Hits 163, Blocked shots 140, Faceoffs won 0.
Smith's biggest edges: Ascension score 64, Offensive-zone start % 68.9%, Goals above expected +2.0.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Braden Schneider
1.37
fantasy points per game
Will Smith
1.94
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Will Smith has the edge.
| Points per game from | Schneider | Smith |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.04 | 0.90 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.16 | 0.54 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.15 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.14 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.21 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.82 | 0.08 |
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: Schneider vs Smith
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2024-25 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Schneider 0G 1A, 2 SOG · Smith 2G 5A, 6 SOG
On the ice against each other (Schneider's side)
10:48 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Schneider's side
- Shot attempts
- 15–6
- 71.4%
- Expected goals
- 0.8–0.2
- 76.4%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Schneider | Smith |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-23 | NYR 1–3 SJS | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2025-10-23 | NYR 5–6 SJS | 0G 0A 1S | 2G 2A 2S |
| 2025-03-29 | NYR 6–1 SJS | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-11-14 | NYR 3–2 SJS | 0G 0A 0S | 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
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.
Braden Schneider
4games (1 left)
1.2proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ BOSOpp allows 8th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs TBLOpp allows 7th-most FP to DLikely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2BOpp allows 15th-most FP to DSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs John Gibson (.901)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA1.2 ptsOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to DSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
Will Smith
2games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs FLAOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Akira Schmid (.892)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs LAK1.9 ptsOpp allows the most FP to CSchedule edge +3.3 win%Likely vs Anton Forsberg (.910)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Braden Schneider or Will Smith in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Will Smith projects to 1.94 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Braden Schneider's 1.37. Schneider had 18 points in 82 games; Smith had 59 in 69 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, Braden Schneider or Will Smith?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Will Smith leads in 25 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Schneider and Smith done against each other?
- In 4 games against each other in our data, Schneider's team went 2–2. Schneider had 1 points (0 goals) and Smith had 7 (2 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 →