Who to start · 2025-26
Brock Nelson vs Quinn Hughes
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brock Nelson projects to 2.23 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Quinn Hughes's 2.16.
Nelson had 65 points in 81 games; Hughes had 76 in 74 games.
This week Nelson has 1 game left; Hughes has 1 left. We project Hughes for 2.2 ESPN points to Nelson's 2.0.
Brock Nelson has the better number in 20 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Nelson's biggest edges: Goals above expected +1.1, Forecheck xG /60 0.42, Plus/minus +15.
Hughes's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 0.60, Ascension score 57, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.47.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 2 A, 3 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brock Nelson
2.23
fantasy points per game
Quinn Hughes
2.16
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Brock Nelson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Nelson | Hughes |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.89 | 0.18 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.94 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.20 | 0.22 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.22 | 0.27 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.01 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.38 | 0.55 |
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, 2019-20 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Nelson 10G 6A, 46 SOG · Hughes 6G 16A, 53 SOG
Nelson blocked 1 of Hughes's shots; Hughes blocked 0 of Nelson's.
On the ice against each other (Nelson's side)
60:29 at 5-on-5 over 10 games, 2025-26, from Nelson's side
- Shot attempts
- 73–58
- 55.7%
- Expected goals
- 3.4–2.2
- 60.6%
- Goals
- 2–3
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Nelson | Hughes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-13 · PO | COL 4–3 MIN | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2026-05-11 · PO | COL 5–2 MIN | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2026-05-09 · PO | COL 1–5 MIN | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2026-05-05 · PO | COL 5–2 MIN | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2026-05-03 · PO | COL 9–6 MIN | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 2A 2S |
| 2026-03-08 | COL 3–2 MIN | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2026-02-26 | COL 2–5 MIN | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2025-12-21 | COL 5–1 MIN | 1G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-12-02 | COL 3–1 VAN | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-11-09 | COL 5–4 VAN | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 7S |
| 2025-04-10 | COL 1–4 VAN | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-11-14 | NYI 5–2 VAN | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
Latest 12 of 19 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)
2.0proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAK
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL2.0 ptsSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Quinn Hughes
2games (1 left)
2.2proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NSH
- Sat, Oct 3 vs BOS2.2 ptsSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Brock Nelson or Quinn Hughes 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 Quinn Hughes's 2.16. Nelson had 65 points in 81 games; Hughes had 76 in 74 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 Quinn Hughes?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Brock Nelson leads in 20 of 34 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 19 games against each other in our data, Nelson's team went 10–9. Nelson had 16 points (10 goals) and Hughes had 22 (6 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 →