Who to start · 2025-26
Darnell Nurse vs Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Darnell Nurse projects to 1.83 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins's 1.70.
Nurse had 24 points in 82 games; Nugent-Hopkins had 56 in 72 games.
This week Nurse has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Nugent-Hopkins has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Nurse for 2.1 ESPN points to Nugent-Hopkins's 1.1.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has the better number in 21 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Nurse's biggest edges: Hits 137, 20+ mph bursts 101, Penalty minutes 104.
Nugent-Hopkins's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 46.0%, Power-play share 86.6%, Forecheck xG /60 0.34.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Darnell Nurse
1.78
fantasy points per game
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
1.70
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Darnell Nurse has the edge.
| Points per game from | Nurse | Nugent-Hopkins |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.17 | 0.56 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.21 | 0.50 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.20 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.20 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.17 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 1.02 | 0.22 |
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 Nugent-Hopkins
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.
Nurse blocked 0 of Nugent-Hopkins's shots; Nugent-Hopkins blocked 2 of Nurse's.
Goals each scored with the other picking up an assist (as teammates).
On the ice together
358:58 at 5-on-5 over 78 games, 2025-26
- Shot attempts
- 334–399
- 45.6%
- Expected goals
- 16.1–16.5
- 49.4%
- Goals
- 15–14
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 15th-fewest 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)
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
3games (1 left)
1.1proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VANOpp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.1 ptsOpp allows 6th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Darnell Nurse or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Darnell Nurse projects to 1.83 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins's 1.70. Nurse had 24 points in 82 games; Nugent-Hopkins had 56 in 72 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 Ryan Nugent-Hopkins?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins leads in 21 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
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 →