Who to start · 2025-26
Dylan Larkin vs Will Smith
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Dylan Larkin projects to 2.13 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Will Smith's 1.94.
Larkin had 67 points in 74 games; Smith had 59 in 69 games.
This week Larkin has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Smith has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Larkin for 2.2 ESPN points to Smith's 1.9.
Dylan Larkin has the better number in 19 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Larkin's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 789, Penalty minutes 48, Blocked shots 33.
Smith's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 68.9%, On-ice PDO 1033, Luck Meter +40.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Dylan Larkin
2.13
fantasy points per game
Will Smith
1.68
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Dylan Larkin has the edge.
| Points per game from | Larkin | Smith |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.92 | 0.70 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.45 | 0.51 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.16 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.31 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.06 | 0.02 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.09 |
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 Smith
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2024-25 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Larkin 2G 3A, 15 SOG · Smith 1G 2A, 7 SOG
Larkin's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 0–0 · Larkin's defensive zone 0–1 (2024-25)
On the ice against each other (Larkin's side)
13:18 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Larkin's side
- Shot attempts
- 15–18
- 45.5%
- Expected goals
- 1.1–0.8
- 56.8%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Larkin | Smith |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-16 | DET 4–2 SJS | 1G 0A 6S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-11-02 | DET 3–2 SJS | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-01-14 | DET 3–6 SJS | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-11-18 | DET 4–5 SJS | 1G 1A 4S | 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 Larkin
2games (1 left)
2.2proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs NYROpp allows 15th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Dylan Garand (.948)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs WPG2.2 ptsOpp allows 4th-most FP to CLikely vs Stuart Skinner (.888)
Will Smith
2games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs FLAOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Akira Schmid (.892)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs LAK1.9 ptsOpp allows the most FP to CSchedule edge +3.3 win%Likely vs Anton Forsberg (.910)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Dylan Larkin or Will Smith 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 Will Smith's 1.94. Larkin had 67 points in 74 games; Smith had 59 in 69 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 Will Smith?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Dylan Larkin leads in 19 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Larkin and Smith done against each other?
- In 4 games against each other in our data, Larkin's team went 2–2. Larkin had 5 points (2 goals) and Smith had 3 (1 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Larkin or Smith?
- Against each other, Larkin has won 0 and Smith 1 of their 1 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 →