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Who to start · 2025-26

Brandt Clarke vs Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

Brandt ClarkeBrandt ClarkeKings · DefencevsRyan Nugent-HopkinsRyan Nugent-HopkinsOilers · Centre

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brandt Clarke projects to 1.97 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins's 1.70.

Clarke had 40 points in 82 games; Nugent-Hopkins had 56 in 72 games.

This week Clarke has 1 game left; Nugent-Hopkins has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Clarke for 1.7 ESPN points to Nugent-Hopkins's 1.1.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has the better number in 17 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.

Clarke's biggest edges: Plus/minus +11, On-ice PDO 1014, Fenwick 55.7%.

Nugent-Hopkins's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.34, Hardest shot 88.5, Goals above expected +2.1.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Brandt Clarke

2.02

fantasy points per game

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

1.70

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Brandt Clarke has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromClarkeNugent-Hopkins
Goals (+2)0.200.56
Assists (+1)0.390.50
Power-play points (+0.5)0.080.20
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.000.01
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.190.18
Hits (+0.1)0.040.03
Blocks (+0.5)1.130.22

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: Clarke vs Nugent-Hopkins

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.

ClarkeNugent-Hopkins
7Team record in 13 meetings6
5Points in those games7

Clarke 2G 3A, 14 SOG · Nugent-Hopkins 4G 3A, 26 SOG

2Shots blocked by the other1

Clarke blocked 2 of Nugent-Hopkins's shots; Nugent-Hopkins blocked 1 of Clarke's.

0Penalties drawn off the other1

On the ice against each other (Clarke's side)

12:34 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Clarke's side

Shot attempts
19–12
61.3%
Expected goals
0.7–0.3
71.9%
Goals
1–0

Games against each other

Games between Brandt Clarke and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
DateScoreClarkeNugent-Hopkins
2026-04-11LAK 1–0 EDM0G 0A 1S0G 0A 1S
2026-02-26LAK 1–8 EDM0G 0A 0S0G 0A 3S
2026-01-10LAK 4–3 EDM0G 2A 3S0G 1A 2S
2025-05-01 · POLAK 4–6 EDM1G 0A 2S1G 1A 2S
2025-04-29 · POLAK 1–3 EDM0G 0A 0S1G 0A 3S
2025-04-27 · POLAK 3–4 EDM0G 0A 0S0G 1A 3S
2025-04-25 · POLAK 4–7 EDM0G 0A 1S1G 0A 2S
2025-04-23 · POLAK 6–2 EDM1G 0A 2S0G 0A 1S
2025-04-21 · POLAK 6–5 EDM0G 0A 1S0G 0A 1S
2025-04-14LAK 5–0 EDM0G 0A 1S0G 0A 2S
2025-04-05LAK 3–0 EDM0G 0A 1S0G 0A 0S
2025-01-13LAK 0–1 EDM0G 0A 1S0G 0A 2S

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.

ClarkeNugent-Hopkins

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

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.

Brandt Clarke

2games (1 left)

1.7proj. ESPN pts

  • Wed, Sep 30 @ COL
    Opp allows 9th-most FP to DLikely vs Mackenzie Blackwood (.903)
  • Sat, Oct 3 @ SJS1.7 pts
    Opp allows 11th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

3games (1 left)

1.1proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 vs VAN
    Opp allows 4th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
  • Thu, Oct 1 @ VAN
    Opp allows 4th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.1 pts
    Opp allows 6th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Brandt Clarke or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brandt Clarke projects to 1.97 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins's 1.70. Clarke had 40 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, Brandt Clarke or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins?
On 2025-26 numbers, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins leads in 17 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
How have Clarke and Nugent-Hopkins done against each other?
In 13 games against each other in our data, Clarke's team went 7–6. Clarke had 5 points (2 goals) and Nugent-Hopkins had 7 (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 →