Who to start · 2025-26
Brandon Hagel 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 Brandon Hagel's 2.15.
Hagel had 74 points in 71 games; Hughes had 77 in 61 games.
This week Hagel has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Hughes has 1 left. We project Hughes for 2.3 ESPN points to Hagel's 1.8.
Brandon Hagel has the better number in 19 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Hagel's biggest edges: On-ice PDO 1032, Penalty minutes 58, Plus/minus +34.
Hughes's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 79.3%, Offensive-zone time 45.1%, Power-play share 74.5%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brandon Hagel
2.15
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 | Hagel | Hughes |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.95 | 0.95 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.77 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.07 | 0.18 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.02 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.30 | 0.38 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.06 | 0.01 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.25 | 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: Hagel vs Hughes
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.
Hagel 8G 9A, 20 SOG · Hughes 5G 8A, 40 SOG
Hagel's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 0–0 · Hagel's defensive zone 1–0 (2021-22)
On the ice against each other (Hagel's side)
4:08 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Hagel's side
- Shot attempts
- 4–3
- 57.1%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.2
- 25.5%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Hagel | Hughes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-10-11 | TBL 3–5 NJD | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 7S |
| 2025-01-11 | TBL 2–3 NJD | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 1A 5S |
| 2024-11-16 | TBL 4–0 NJD | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2024-10-22 | TBL 8–5 NJD | 3G 1A 3S | 1G 2A 2S |
| 2024-02-25 | TBL 4–1 NJD | 1G 2A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-03-19 | TBL 2–5 NJD | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-03-16 | TBL 4–3 NJD | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 6S |
| 2023-03-14 | TBL 4–1 NJD | 1G 2A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-02-25 | CHI 8–5 NJD | 3G 0A 5S | 1G 2A 5S |
| 2021-10-15 | CHI 3–4 NJD | 0G 1A 1S | 2G 0A 3S |
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.
Brandon Hagel
2games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 7th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH1.8 ptsOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)
Jack Hughes
2games (1 left)
2.3proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs PHIOpp allows 7th-most FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Joseph Woll (.899)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NYI2.3 ptsOpp allows 15th-most FP to CSchedule edge −4.0 win%vs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Brandon Hagel 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 Brandon Hagel's 2.15. Hagel had 74 points in 71 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, Brandon Hagel or Jack Hughes?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Brandon Hagel leads in 19 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Hagel and Hughes done against each other?
- In 10 games against each other in our data, Hagel's team went 6–4. Hagel had 17 points (8 goals) and Hughes had 13 (5 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Hagel or Hughes?
- Against each other, Hagel has won 1 and Hughes 0 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 →