Who to start · 2025-26
Brock Nelson 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 Brock Nelson's 2.23.
Nelson had 65 points in 81 games; Hughes had 77 in 61 games.
This week Nelson has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Hughes has 1 left. We project Hughes for 2.3 ESPN points to Nelson's 1.3.
Brock Nelson has the better number in 22 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Nelson's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 36, Draw Equity /100 +0.005, On-ice PDO 1010.
Hughes's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.60, Offensive-zone start % 79.3%, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.55.
Head to head on the dot, Nelson leads Hughes 28–16.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 2 A, 3 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brock Nelson
2.23
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 | Nelson | Hughes |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.89 | 0.95 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.77 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.20 | 0.18 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.02 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.22 | 0.38 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.01 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.38 | 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: Nelson vs Hughes
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2020-21 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Nelson 12G 3A, 54 SOG · Hughes 14G 8A, 63 SOG
Nelson's offensive zone 7–3 · neutral 13–7 · Nelson's defensive zone 8–6 (2020-21 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Nelson's side)
19:12 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Nelson's side
- Shot attempts
- 17–15
- 53.1%
- Expected goals
- 0.6–0.3
- 66.9%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Nelson | Hughes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-10-28 | COL 8–4 NJD | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2025-10-26 | COL 3–4 NJD | 1G 0A 2S | 2G 0A 2S |
| 2024-11-09 | NYI 3–4 NJD | 1G 0A 2S | 2G 1A 5S |
| 2024-10-25 | NYI 4–3 NJD | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2024-03-24 | NYI 0–4 NJD | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2023-11-28 | NYI 4–5 NJD | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 2A 9S |
| 2023-10-20 | NYI 4–5 NJD | 2G 0A 5S | 2G 2A 6S |
| 2023-03-27 | NYI 5–1 NJD | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2022-12-09 | NYI 6–4 NJD | 2G 0A 8S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2022-10-20 | NYI 1–4 NJD | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 7S |
| 2022-04-03 | NYI 4–3 NJD | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-01-13 | NYI 3–2 NJD | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 5S |
Latest 12 of 21 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.
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.
Brock Nelson
2games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows the most FP to CLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL1.3 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
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 Brock Nelson 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 Brock Nelson's 2.23. Nelson had 65 points in 81 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, Brock Nelson or Jack Hughes?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Brock Nelson leads in 22 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Nelson and Hughes done against each other?
- In 21 games against each other in our data, Nelson's team went 13–8. Nelson had 15 points (12 goals) and Hughes had 22 (14 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Nelson or Hughes?
- Against each other, Nelson has won 28 and Hughes 16 of their 44 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 →