Who to start · 2025-26
Brock Nelson vs Ryan Hartman
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brock Nelson projects to 2.23 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ryan Hartman's 1.73.
Nelson had 65 points in 81 games; Hartman had 43 in 76 games.
This week Nelson has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Hartman has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Nelson for 1.3 ESPN points to Hartman's 1.2.
Brock Nelson has the better number in 27 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Nelson's biggest edges: 20+ mph bursts 150, Plus/minus +15, Corsi 57.5%.
Hartman's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.53, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.64, Hits 64.
Head to head on the dot, Hartman leads Nelson 39–38.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 2 A, 3 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brock Nelson
2.23
fantasy points per game
Ryan Hartman
1.73
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Brock Nelson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Nelson | Hartman |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.89 | 0.57 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.25 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.20 | 0.04 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.22 | 0.21 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.09 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.38 | 0.59 |
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 Hartman
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 6G 7A, 57 SOG · Hartman 5G 7A, 64 SOG
Nelson's offensive zone 15–9 · neutral 8–10 · Nelson's defensive zone 15–20 (2018-19 to 2025-26)
Nelson blocked 0 of Hartman's shots; Hartman blocked 2 of Nelson's.
On the ice against each other (Nelson's side)
37:24 at 5-on-5 over 9 games, 2025-26, from Nelson's side
- Shot attempts
- 50–45
- 52.6%
- Expected goals
- 1.8–2.7
- 40.1%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Nelson | Hartman |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-13 · PO | COL 4–3 MIN | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2026-05-11 · PO | COL 5–2 MIN | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2026-05-09 · PO | COL 1–5 MIN | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2026-05-05 · PO | COL 5–2 MIN | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2026-05-03 · PO | COL 9–6 MIN | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 7S |
| 2026-03-08 | COL 3–2 MIN | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-02-26 | COL 2–5 MIN | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-12-21 | COL 5–1 MIN | 1G 2A 2S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-11-28 | COL 2–3 MIN | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2025-03-11 | COL 1–2 MIN | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-01-15 | NYI 0–5 MIN | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-11-07 | NYI 2–4 MIN | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
Latest 12 of 23 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)
Ryan Hartman
2games (1 left)
1.2proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NSHOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs BOS1.2 ptsOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge +12.8 win%Likely vs Michael DiPietro (1.000)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Brock Nelson or Ryan Hartman 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 Ryan Hartman's 1.73. Nelson had 65 points in 81 games; Hartman had 43 in 76 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 Ryan Hartman?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Brock Nelson leads in 27 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 Hartman done against each other?
- In 23 games against each other in our data, Nelson's team went 9–14. Nelson had 13 points (6 goals) and Hartman had 12 (5 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Nelson or Hartman?
- Against each other, Nelson has won 38 and Hartman 39 of their 77 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 →