Who to start · 2025-26
Brock Nelson vs Nick Schmaltz
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brock Nelson projects to 2.23 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Nick Schmaltz's 2.05.
Nelson had 65 points in 81 games; Schmaltz had 74 in 82 games.
This week Nelson has 1 game left; Schmaltz has 2 left. We project Schmaltz for 3.8 ESPN points to Nelson's 1.6.
Nick Schmaltz has the better number in 20 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Nelson's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.42, Faceoff win % 50.4%, Draw Equity /100 +0.005.
Schmaltz's biggest edges: Luck Meter +33, Goals above expected +4.2, Offensive-zone start % 65.4%.
Head to head on the dot, Nelson leads Schmaltz 22–13.
- • 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, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brock Nelson
2.23
fantasy points per game
Nick Schmaltz
2.05
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Brock Nelson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Nelson | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.89 | 0.88 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.47 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.20 | 0.11 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.22 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.38 | 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: Nelson vs Schmaltz
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Nelson 7G 9A, 51 SOG · Schmaltz 3G 5A, 27 SOG
Nelson's offensive zone 6–2 · neutral 5–5 · Nelson's defensive zone 11–6 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
Nelson blocked 2 of Schmaltz's shots; Schmaltz blocked 0 of Nelson's.
On the ice against each other (Nelson's side)
23:19 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Nelson's side
- Shot attempts
- 17–28
- 37.8%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–1.4
- 20.4%
- Goals
- 2–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Nelson | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-25 | COL 4–2 UTA | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-12-23 | COL 1–0 UTA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-10-21 | COL 3–4 UTA | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2025-10-09 | COL 2–1 UTA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-01-11 | NYI 2–1 UTA | 1G 1A 4S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-10-10 | NYI 4–5 UTA | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2024-01-04 | NYI 5–1 ARI | 0G 1A 4S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2023-10-17 | NYI 1–0 ARI | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-12-16 | NYI 4–5 ARI | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 3A 1S |
| 2022-01-21 | NYI 4–0 ARI | 2G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2021-10-23 | NYI 3–0 ARI | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2020-02-17 | NYI 1–2 ARI | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
Latest 12 of 16 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)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows the most FP to CLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL1.6 ptsSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
Nick Schmaltz
3games (2 left)
3.8proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs CHIOpp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Arvid Soderblom (.880)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ CBJ1.8 ptsOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ NYRB2B2.0 ptsOpp allows 10th-most FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Brock Nelson or Nick Schmaltz in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brock Nelson projects to 2.23 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Nick Schmaltz's 2.05. Nelson had 65 points in 81 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, Brock Nelson or Nick Schmaltz?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nick Schmaltz leads in 20 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 Schmaltz done against each other?
- In 16 games against each other in our data, Nelson's team went 11–5. Nelson had 16 points (7 goals) and Schmaltz had 8 (3 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Nelson or Schmaltz?
- Against each other, Nelson has won 22 and Schmaltz 13 of their 35 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 →