Who to start · 2025-26
Dylan Larkin vs Nick Schmaltz
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Dylan Larkin projects to 2.13 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Nick Schmaltz's 2.05.
Larkin had 67 points in 74 games; Schmaltz had 74 in 82 games.
This week Larkin has 1 game left; Schmaltz has 2 left. We project Schmaltz for 4.1 ESPN points to Larkin's 2.1.
Nick Schmaltz has the better number in 22 of the 35 stats both are ranked on.
Larkin's biggest edges: Faceoff win % 52.9%, Draw Equity /100 +0.029, Transition attempts /60 1.39.
Schmaltz's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.052, Scoring chances 55.7%, High-danger chances 53.6%.
Head to head on the dot, Larkin leads Schmaltz 17–13.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Dylan Larkin
2.13
fantasy points per game
Nick Schmaltz
2.04
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Dylan Larkin has the edge.
| Points per game from | Larkin | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.92 | 0.80 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.45 | 0.50 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.16 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.31 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.06 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 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: Larkin vs Schmaltz
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.
Larkin 4G 1A, 31 SOG · Schmaltz 5G 7A, 18 SOG
Larkin's offensive zone 3–2 · neutral 4–4 · Larkin's defensive zone 10–7 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
Larkin blocked 2 of Schmaltz's shots; Schmaltz blocked 1 of Larkin's.
On the ice against each other (Larkin's side)
16:31 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Larkin's side
- Shot attempts
- 12–17
- 41.4%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–1.0
- 35.3%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Larkin | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-04 | DET 1–4 UTA | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 6S |
| 2025-12-17 | DET 1–4 UTA | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-03-24 | DET 5–1 UTA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-03-06 | DET 2–4 UTA | 1G 0A 7S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2023-01-17 | DET 3–4 ARI | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-11-25 | DET 4–3 ARI | 0G 0A 9S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2022-03-08 | DET 2–9 ARI | 0G 1A 1S | 2G 2A 2S |
| 2019-12-22 | DET 2–5 ARI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2018-01-25 | DET 1–5 CHI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2018-01-14 | DET 4–0 CHI | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
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 Larkin
2games (1 left)
2.1proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs NYRSchedule edge +9.3 win%
- Sun, Oct 4 vs WPG2.1 pts
Nick Schmaltz
3games (2 left)
4.1proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs CHI
- Sat, Oct 3 @ CBJ2.0 ptsSchedule edge −1.0 win%
- Sun, Oct 4 @ NYRB2B2.0 ptsSchedule edge −9.3 win%
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Dylan Larkin or Nick Schmaltz in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Dylan Larkin projects to 2.13 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Nick Schmaltz's 2.05. Larkin had 67 points in 74 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 Larkin or Nick Schmaltz?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nick Schmaltz leads in 22 of 35 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Larkin and Schmaltz done against each other?
- In 10 games against each other in our data, Larkin's team went 3–7. Larkin had 5 points (4 goals) and Schmaltz had 12 (5 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Larkin or Schmaltz?
- Against each other, Larkin has won 17 and Schmaltz 13 of their 30 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 →