Edgehalla

Who to start · 2025-26

Brandt Clarke vs Cole Hutson

Brandt ClarkeKings · Defence
vs
Cole HutsonCapitals · Defence
Rising5 P in last 5 (0.30/GP before)
SteadyPP1 in 0 of last 5 (was 8 of 17)

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brandt Clarke projects to 2.14 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Cole Hutson's 1.54.

Clarke had 40 points in 82 games; Hutson had 10 in 14 games.

This week Clarke has 3 games left with 1 soft and 2 tough matchups; Hutson has 2 left with 1 soft matchup. In ESPN default points scoring we project Clarke for 6.3 to Hutson's 3.0 over the games left.

Brandt Clarke has the better number in 11 of the 14 stats both are ranked on.

Clarke's biggest edges: Expected goals 53.7%, Sequence xG 53.5%, High-danger chances 53.1%.

Hutson's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.36, Transition attempts /60 1.18, Luck Meter +21.

In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Cole Hutson rates ahead, +5.8 to +3.1 in summed category z-scores.

Role trend over the last 5 games: Clarke is rising, 5 P in last 5 (0.30/GP before); Hutson is steady, PP1 in 0 of last 5 (was 8 of 17).

  • • 2026-27 so far: 6 GP, 1 G, 4 A, 2 PPP, 15 SOG.
  • • Cole Hutson is a rookie: 14 NHL games before this season.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 8 GP, 1 G, 3 A, 1 PPP, 19 SOG.

Los Angeles Kings · Washington Capitals · Who should I start? · Compare other players

Fantasy value: your scoring

Brandt Clarke

+3.1

category z-score total

Cole Hutson

+5.8

category z-score total

Under Standard (6 categories), Cole Hutson has the edge (Clarke wins 2, Hutson wins 4 of 6 categories).

Per-stat breakdown under Standard (6 categories)
CategoryClarkeHutson
Goals / game0.120.18
Assists / game0.470.46
Plus/minus / game-0.19-0.10
Power-play points / game0.210.28
Shots on goal / game2.101.85
Hits / game0.261.01

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

Brandt Clarke and Cole Hutson have no head-to-head events in our data yet (regular season and playoffs since 2019-20).

Every stat, side by side

Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.

ClarkeHutson

Fantasy box score

Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

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

Brandt Clarke

3games

6.3proj. ESPN default pts

  • Tue, Oct 20 @ WSH2.0 pts
    Opp allows 10th-fewest FP to Dvs Logan Thompson (.912)
  • Thu, Oct 22 @ NYI1.9 pts
    Opp allows 5th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
  • Sat, Oct 24 @ NJD2.4 pts
    Opp allows 2nd-most FP to DLikely vs Jake Allen (.904)

Cole Hutson

2games

3.0proj. ESPN default pts

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Brandt Clarke or Cole Hutson in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brandt Clarke projects to 2.14 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Cole Hutson's 1.54. Clarke had 40 points in 82 games; Hutson had 10 in 14 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, Brandt Clarke or Cole Hutson?
On 2025-26 numbers, Brandt Clarke leads in 11 of 14 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.

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 →