Who to start · 2025-26
Dylan Cozens 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 Dylan Cozens's 1.90.
Cozens had 59 points in 82 games; Hughes had 77 in 61 games.
This week Cozens has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Hughes has 1 left. We project Hughes for 2.3 ESPN points to Cozens's 1.4.
Dylan Cozens has the better number in 21 of the 35 stats both are ranked on.
Cozens's biggest edges: Hits 215, Penalty minutes 59, Faceoff win % 53.2%.
Hughes's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.55, Plus/minus 0, Ice-time share 35.1%.
Head to head on the dot, Cozens leads Hughes 19–3.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Dylan Cozens
1.90
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 | Cozens | Hughes |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.68 | 0.89 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 0.82 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.18 | 0.19 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.02 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.37 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.26 | 0.01 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.15 | 0.26 |
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: Cozens vs Hughes
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2020-21 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Cozens 3G 2A, 28 SOG · Hughes 6G 8A, 60 SOG
Cozens's offensive zone 4–1 · neutral 4–0 · Cozens's defensive zone 11–2 (2020-21 to 2024-25)
On the ice against each other (Cozens's side)
4:19 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Cozens's side
- Shot attempts
- 6–6
- 50.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.9–0.2
- 81.7%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cozens | Hughes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-12 | OTT 3–4 NJD | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2025-02-02 | BUF 4–3 NJD | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-10-05 | BUF 1–3 NJD | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 6S |
| 2024-10-04 | BUF 1–4 NJD | 0G 0A 7S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-03-29 | BUF 5–2 NJD | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2023-11-25 | BUF 2–7 NJD | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2023-10-27 | BUF 4–5 NJD | 1G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2023-04-11 | BUF 2–6 NJD | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2023-03-24 | BUF 5–4 NJD | 1G 1A 2S | 2G 1A 4S |
| 2022-11-25 | BUF 1–3 NJD | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2021-02-25 | BUF 3–4 NJD | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 8S |
| 2021-02-23 | BUF 4–1 NJD | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
Latest 12 of 15 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.
Dylan Cozens
1games
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TOR1.4 ptsOpp allows 7th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
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 Dylan Cozens 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 Dylan Cozens's 1.90. Cozens had 59 points in 82 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, Dylan Cozens or Jack Hughes?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Dylan Cozens leads in 21 of 35 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Cozens and Hughes done against each other?
- In 15 games against each other in our data, Cozens's team went 6–9. Cozens had 5 points (3 goals) and Hughes had 14 (6 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Cozens or Hughes?
- Against each other, Cozens has won 19 and Hughes 3 of their 22 head-to-head draws.
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 →