Who to start · 2025-26
Cutter Gauthier 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 Cutter Gauthier's 2.18.
Gauthier had 69 points in 76 games; Hughes had 77 in 61 games.
This week Gauthier has 1 game left; Hughes has 1 left. We project Hughes for 2.3 ESPN points to Gauthier's 1.7.
Jack Hughes has the better number in 22 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Gauthier's biggest edges: Hardest shot 99.9, Goals above expected +5.8, Hits 64.
Hughes's biggest edges: Sequence xG 53.7%, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.55, Offensive-zone start % 79.3%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Cutter Gauthier
2.18
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 | Gauthier | Hughes |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.01 | 0.95 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.41 | 0.77 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.12 | 0.18 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.02 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.38 | 0.38 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.10 | 0.01 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.15 | 0.25 |
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: Gauthier vs Hughes
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2024-25 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Gauthier 1G 3A, 6 SOG · Hughes 2G 0A, 11 SOG
On the ice against each other (Gauthier's side)
3:59 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Gauthier's side
- Shot attempts
- 9–1
- 90.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.1
- 75.7%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Gauthier | Hughes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-02 | ANA 4–1 NJD | 1G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2024-12-31 | ANA 3–2 NJD | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2024-10-27 | ANA 2–6 NJD | 0G 1A 4S | 1G 0A 3S |
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.
Cutter Gauthier
2games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ VGKOpp allows 14th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Carter Hart (.891)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs FLA1.7 ptsOpp allows 13th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Jacob Markstrom (.883)
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 Cutter Gauthier 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 Cutter Gauthier's 2.18. Gauthier had 69 points in 76 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, Cutter Gauthier or Jack Hughes?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Jack Hughes leads in 22 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Gauthier and Hughes done against each other?
- In 3 games against each other in our data, Gauthier's team went 2–1. Gauthier had 4 points (1 goals) and Hughes had 2 (2 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 →