Who to start · 2025-26
Bryan Rust 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 Bryan Rust's 2.28.
Rust had 65 points in 72 games; Hughes had 77 in 61 games.
This week Rust has 1 game left; Hughes has 1 left. We project Hughes for 2.3 ESPN points to Rust's 2.2.
Jack Hughes has the better number in 20 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Rust's biggest edges: On-ice PDO 1019, Goals above expected +1.5, Blocked shots 71.
Hughes's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.60, Scoring chances 56.0%, Faceoffs won 145.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Bryan Rust
2.28
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 | Rust | Hughes |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.81 | 0.89 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.82 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.17 | 0.19 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.02 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.37 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.01 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.49 | 0.26 |
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: Rust 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.
Rust 11G 12A, 51 SOG · Hughes 11G 12A, 83 SOG
Rust's offensive zone 0–1 · neutral 1–0 · Rust's defensive zone 1–0 (2024-25)
Rust blocked 1 of Hughes's shots; Hughes blocked 0 of Rust's.
On the ice against each other (Rust's side)
15:11 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Rust's side
- Shot attempts
- 13–18
- 41.9%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.5
- 50.2%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Rust | Hughes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-09 | PIT 5–2 NJD | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2026-02-26 | PIT 4–1 NJD | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2026-01-08 | PIT 4–1 NJD | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-11-08 | PIT 1–2 NJD | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2025-02-04 | PIT 2–3 NJD | 0G 0A 2S | 2G 0A 5S |
| 2024-12-21 | PIT 0–3 NJD | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-04-02 | PIT 6–3 NJD | 0G 2A 0S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-03-19 | PIT 2–5 NJD | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 2A 4S |
| 2023-04-04 | PIT 1–5 NJD | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2023-02-18 | PIT 2–5 NJD | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2023-01-22 | PIT 1–2 NJD | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2022-12-30 | PIT 2–4 NJD | 0G 0A 0S | 2G 0A 6S |
Latest 12 of 25 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.
Bryan Rust
2games (1 left)
2.2proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 5th-most FP to RWLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL2.2 ptsOpp allows 12th-most FP to RWvs Jakub Dobes (.901)
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 Bryan Rust 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 Bryan Rust's 2.28. Rust had 65 points in 72 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, Bryan Rust or Jack Hughes?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Jack Hughes leads in 20 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Rust and Hughes done against each other?
- In 25 games against each other in our data, Rust's team went 13–12. Rust had 23 points (11 goals) and Hughes had 23 (11 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Rust or Hughes?
- Against each other, Rust has won 2 and Hughes 1 of their 3 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 →