Who to start · 2025-26
Dylan Cozens 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 Dylan Cozens's 1.90.
Cozens had 59 points in 82 games; Schmaltz had 74 in 82 games.
This week Cozens has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Schmaltz has 2 left. We project Schmaltz for 3.1 ESPN points to Cozens's 1.4.
Dylan Cozens has the better number in 18 of the 35 stats both are ranked on.
Cozens's biggest edges: Hits 215, Faceoff win % 53.2%, Draw Equity /100 +0.036.
Schmaltz's biggest edges: Plus/minus +17, Blocked shots 52, On-ice PDO 1007.
Head to head on the dot, Cozens leads Schmaltz 7–5.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Dylan Cozens
1.90
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 | Cozens | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.68 | 0.80 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 0.50 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.18 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.26 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.15 | 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: Cozens vs Schmaltz
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Cozens 0G 2A, 11 SOG · Schmaltz 2G 1A, 17 SOG
Cozens's offensive zone 4–1 · neutral 1–3 · Cozens's defensive zone 2–1 (2021-22 to 2025-26)
Cozens blocked 1 of Schmaltz's shots; Schmaltz blocked 0 of Cozens's.
On the ice against each other (Cozens's side)
6:13 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Cozens's side
- Shot attempts
- 6–2
- 75.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.5
- 40.3%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cozens | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-07 | OTT 1–3 UTA | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-11-09 | OTT 4–2 UTA | 0G 2A 0S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2024-12-07 | BUF 2–5 UTA | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2023-12-16 | BUF 0–2 ARI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-12-11 | BUF 5–2 ARI | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-12-17 | BUF 5–2 ARI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2022-01-29 | BUF 3–1 ARI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2021-10-16 | BUF 2–1 ARI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
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)
Nick Schmaltz
3games (2 left)
3.1proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs CHIOpp allows 8th-most FP to CLikely vs Arvid Soderblom (.880)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ CBJ1.7 ptsOpp allows 16th-most FP to CSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ NYRB2B1.4 ptsOpp allows 15th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Dylan Cozens 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 Dylan Cozens's 1.90. Cozens had 59 points in 82 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, Dylan Cozens or Nick Schmaltz?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Dylan Cozens leads in 18 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 Schmaltz done against each other?
- In 8 games against each other in our data, Cozens's team went 5–3. Cozens had 2 points (0 goals) and Schmaltz had 3 (2 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Cozens or Schmaltz?
- Against each other, Cozens has won 7 and Schmaltz 5 of their 12 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 →