Who to start · 2025-26
Bryan Rust vs Nick Schmaltz
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Bryan Rust projects to 2.28 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Nick Schmaltz's 2.05.
Rust had 65 points in 72 games; Schmaltz had 74 in 82 games.
This week Rust has 1 game left; Schmaltz has 2 left. We project Schmaltz for 4.1 ESPN points to Rust's 2.3.
Nick Schmaltz has the better number in 23 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Rust's biggest edges: On-ice PDO 1019, Hits 35, Forecheck xG /60 0.32.
Schmaltz's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 448, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.052, Expected goals 55.8%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Bryan Rust
2.28
fantasy points per game
Nick Schmaltz
2.04
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Bryan Rust has the edge.
| Points per game from | Rust | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.81 | 0.80 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.50 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.17 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.49 | 0.32 |
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 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.
Rust 4G 6A, 20 SOG · Schmaltz 4G 8A, 29 SOG
Rust blocked 1 of Schmaltz's shots; Schmaltz blocked 0 of Rust's.
On the ice against each other (Rust's side)
6:42 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Rust's side
- Shot attempts
- 3–12
- 20.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.0–0.6
- 6.4%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Rust | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-14 | PIT 4–3 UTA | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-12-14 | PIT 4–5 UTA | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 8S |
| 2025-01-29 | PIT 3–2 UTA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-11-23 | PIT 1–6 UTA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2023-01-08 | PIT 4–1 ARI | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2022-10-13 | PIT 6–2 ARI | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-03-19 | PIT 4–1 ARI | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-01-25 | PIT 6–3 ARI | 1G 2A 3S | 2G 1A 2S |
| 2020-01-12 | PIT 4–3 ARI | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2019-12-06 | PIT 2–0 ARI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2017-11-18 | PIT 1–2 CHI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2017-10-05 | PIT 1–10 CHI | 0G 0A 0S | 2G 1A 4S |
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)
2.3proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHI
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL2.3 pts
Nick Schmaltz
3games (2 left)
4.1proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs CHI
- Sat, Oct 3 @ CBJ2.0 pts
- Sun, Oct 4 @ NYRB2B2.0 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Bryan Rust or Nick Schmaltz in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Bryan Rust projects to 2.28 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Nick Schmaltz's 2.05. Rust had 65 points in 72 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, Bryan Rust or Nick Schmaltz?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nick Schmaltz leads in 23 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 Schmaltz done against each other?
- In 12 games against each other in our data, Rust's team went 8–4. Rust had 10 points (4 goals) and Schmaltz had 12 (4 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 →