Who to start · 2025-26
Brandon Hagel vs Nick Schmaltz
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brandon Hagel projects to 2.15 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Nick Schmaltz's 2.05.
Hagel had 74 points in 71 games; Schmaltz had 74 in 82 games.
This week Hagel has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Schmaltz has 2 left. We project Schmaltz for 3.1 ESPN points to Hagel's 1.8.
Brandon Hagel has the better number in 17 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Hagel's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 2.07, Ascension score 58, Forecheck xG /60 0.37.
Schmaltz's biggest edges: Goals above expected +5.3, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.052, Faceoffs won 448.
- • 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, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brandon Hagel
2.15
fantasy points per game
Nick Schmaltz
2.05
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Brandon Hagel has the edge.
| Points per game from | Hagel | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.95 | 0.88 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.47 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.07 | 0.11 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.30 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.06 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.25 | 0.30 |
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 Schmaltz
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2022-23 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Hagel 1G 4A, 19 SOG · Schmaltz 1G 3A, 11 SOG
Hagel's offensive zone 1–0 · neutral 0–0 · Hagel's defensive zone 0–0 (2025-26)
Hagel blocked 0 of Schmaltz's shots; Schmaltz blocked 1 of Hagel's.
On the ice against each other (Hagel's side)
4:32 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Hagel's side
- Shot attempts
- 4–4
- 50.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.0–0.2
- 17.4%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Hagel | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-26 | TBL 2–0 UTA | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-11-02 | TBL 4–2 UTA | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-03-27 | TBL 8–0 UTA | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-03-22 | TBL 4–6 UTA | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 2A 2S |
| 2024-01-25 | TBL 6–3 ARI | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2023-11-28 | TBL 1–3 ARI | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-02-15 | TBL 0–1 ARI | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
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)
Nick Schmaltz
3games (2 left)
3.1proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs CHIOpp allows 8th-most FP to CLikely vs Arvid Soderblom (.880)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ CBJ1.7 ptsOpp allows 16th-most FP to CSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ NYRB2B1.4 ptsOpp allows 15th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Brandon Hagel or Nick Schmaltz in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brandon Hagel projects to 2.15 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Nick Schmaltz's 2.05. Hagel had 74 points in 71 games; Schmaltz had 74 in 82 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 Nick Schmaltz?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Brandon Hagel leads in 17 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 Schmaltz done against each other?
- In 7 games against each other in our data, Hagel's team went 4–3. Hagel had 5 points (1 goals) and Schmaltz had 4 (1 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Hagel or Schmaltz?
- Against each other, Hagel has won 1 and Schmaltz 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 →