Who to start · 2025-26
Colton Parayko vs Nick Schmaltz
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nick Schmaltz projects to 2.05 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Colton Parayko's 1.66.
Parayko had 18 points in 77 games; Schmaltz had 74 in 82 games.
This week Parayko has 2 games left; Schmaltz has 2 left. We project Schmaltz for 3.8 ESPN points to Parayko's 3.7.
Nick Schmaltz has the better number in 27 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Parayko's biggest edges: Hits 95, Transition attempts /60 0.62, Forecheck xG /60 0.38.
Schmaltz's biggest edges: Goals above expected +4.2, Luck Meter +33, Corsi 55.9%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Colton Parayko
1.66
fantasy points per game
Nick Schmaltz
2.04
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nick Schmaltz has the edge.
| Points per game from | Parayko | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.10 | 0.80 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.18 | 0.50 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.14 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.12 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 1.12 | 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: Parayko 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.
Parayko 4G 13A, 81 SOG · Schmaltz 17G 25A, 68 SOG
Parayko blocked 5 of Schmaltz's shots; Schmaltz blocked 0 of Parayko's.
On the ice against each other (Parayko's side)
33:15 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Parayko's side
- Shot attempts
- 21–24
- 46.7%
- Expected goals
- 1.4–0.9
- 60.4%
- Goals
- 0–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Parayko | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-16 | STL 5–3 UTA | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-01-09 | STL 2–4 UTA | 0G 0A 1S | 2G 1A 5S |
| 2025-11-29 | STL 1–0 UTA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-10-23 | STL 4–7 UTA | 0G 2A 1S | 1G 2A 1S |
| 2025-04-15 | STL 6–1 UTA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-02-02 | STL 2–1 UTA | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-01-18 | STL 2–4 UTA | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-11-07 | STL 2–4 UTA | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-12-02 | STL 1–4 ARI | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2023-11-22 | STL 6–5 ARI | 1G 0A 6S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2023-11-09 | STL 2–1 ARI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-10-19 | STL 2–6 ARI | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 4S |
Latest 12 of 38 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.
Colton Parayko
2games
3.7proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DAL1.7 ptsvs Jake Oettinger (.899)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ COLB2B2.0 ptsOpp allows 9th-most FP to DSchedule edge −16.8 win%Likely vs Mackenzie Blackwood (.903)
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 Colton Parayko or Nick Schmaltz in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nick Schmaltz projects to 2.05 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Colton Parayko's 1.66. Parayko had 18 points in 77 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, Colton Parayko or Nick Schmaltz?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nick Schmaltz leads in 27 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Parayko and Schmaltz done against each other?
- In 38 games against each other in our data, Parayko's team went 18–20. Parayko had 17 points (4 goals) and Schmaltz had 42 (17 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 →