Who to start · 2025-26
Darnell Nurse vs Quinn Hughes
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Quinn Hughes projects to 2.16 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Darnell Nurse's 1.83.
Nurse had 24 points in 82 games; Hughes had 76 in 74 games.
This week Nurse has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Hughes has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Nurse for 2.1 ESPN points to Hughes's 1.7.
Quinn Hughes has the better number in 22 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Nurse's biggest edges: Hits 137, Goals above expected +0.8, Blocked shots 167.
Hughes's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.47, Offensive-zone time 46.7%, Ascension score 57.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Darnell Nurse
1.83
fantasy points per game
Quinn Hughes
2.16
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Quinn Hughes has the edge.
| Points per game from | Nurse | Hughes |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.16 | 0.18 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.19 | 0.94 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.22 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.19 | 0.27 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.17 | 0.01 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 1.11 | 0.55 |
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: Nurse 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.
Nurse 3G 14A, 88 SOG · Hughes 6G 28A, 77 SOG
Nurse blocked 13 of Hughes's shots; Hughes blocked 1 of Nurse's.
On the ice against each other (Nurse's side)
26:57 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Nurse's side
- Shot attempts
- 27–33
- 45.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.7–1.7
- 29.2%
- Goals
- 1–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Nurse | Hughes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-31 | EDM 3–7 MIN | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2025-12-20 | EDM 2–5 MIN | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-10-11 | EDM 3–1 VAN | 0G 1A 5S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-01-23 | EDM 6–2 VAN | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-01-18 | EDM 2–3 VAN | 0G 0A 2S | 2G 0A 5S |
| 2024-11-09 | EDM 7–3 VAN | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2024-05-20 · PO | EDM 3–2 VAN | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-05-18 · PO | EDM 5–1 VAN | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-05-16 · PO | EDM 2–3 VAN | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-05-14 · PO | EDM 3–2 VAN | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-05-12 · PO | EDM 3–4 VAN | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2024-05-10 · PO | EDM 4–3 VAN | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
Latest 12 of 37 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.
Darnell Nurse
2games (1 left)
2.1proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs FLAOpp allows 13th-most FP to DLikely vs Akira Schmid (.892)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs LAK2.1 ptsOpp allows 3rd-most FP to DSchedule edge +3.3 win%Likely vs Anton Forsberg (.910)
Quinn Hughes
2games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NSHOpp allows 11th-most FP to DLikely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs BOS1.7 ptsOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to DSchedule edge +12.8 win%Likely vs Michael DiPietro (1.000)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Darnell Nurse or Quinn Hughes in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Quinn Hughes projects to 2.16 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Darnell Nurse's 1.83. Nurse had 24 points in 82 games; Hughes had 76 in 74 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, Darnell Nurse or Quinn Hughes?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Quinn Hughes leads in 22 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Nurse and Hughes done against each other?
- In 37 games against each other in our data, Nurse's team went 20–17. Nurse had 17 points (3 goals) and Hughes had 34 (6 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 →