Who to start · 2025-26
Dylan Strome 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 Strome's 1.72.
Strome had 58 points in 80 games; Schmaltz had 74 in 82 games.
This week Strome has 1 game left; Schmaltz has 2 left. We project Schmaltz for 3.1 ESPN points to Strome's 1.8.
Nick Schmaltz has the better number in 26 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Strome's biggest edges: Faceoff win % 58.3%, Draw Equity /100 +0.104, Ascension score 55.
Schmaltz's biggest edges: 20+ mph bursts 208, Goals above expected +5.3, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.052.
Head to head on the dot, Strome leads Schmaltz 12–7.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Dylan Strome
1.72
fantasy points per game
Nick Schmaltz
2.05
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nick Schmaltz has the edge.
| Points per game from | Strome | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.45 | 0.88 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.58 | 0.47 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.15 | 0.11 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.01 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.34 | 0.30 |
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: Strome 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.
Strome 6G 7A, 27 SOG · Schmaltz 5G 9A, 29 SOG
Strome's offensive zone 5–3 · neutral 2–1 · Strome's defensive zone 5–3 (2018-19 to 2025-26)
Strome blocked 1 of Schmaltz's shots; Schmaltz blocked 0 of Strome's.
On the ice against each other (Strome's side)
7:31 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Strome's side
- Shot attempts
- 8–8
- 50.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.5
- 31.5%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Strome | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-26 | WSH 7–4 UTA | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2026-03-03 | WSH 2–3 UTA | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-02-09 | WSH 4–5 UTA | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-11-18 | WSH 6–2 UTA | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-03-03 | WSH 2–5 ARI | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2023-12-04 | WSH 0–6 ARI | 0G 0A 1S | 2G 0A 3S |
| 2023-01-19 | WSH 4–0 ARI | 2G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-04-20 | CHI 4–3 ARI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2022-04-03 | CHI 2–3 ARI | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2022-01-06 | CHI 4–6 ARI | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2020-02-01 | CHI 3–2 ARI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2019-12-12 | CHI 2–5 ARI | 1G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 2S |
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 Strome
2games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ CAROpp allows 13th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TBLB2B1.8 ptsOpp allows 11th-most FP to CSchedule edge −13.3 win%vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
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 Strome 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 Strome's 1.72. Strome had 58 points in 80 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 Strome or Nick Schmaltz?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nick Schmaltz leads in 26 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Strome and Schmaltz done against each other?
- In 15 games against each other in our data, Strome's team went 6–9. Strome had 13 points (6 goals) and Schmaltz had 14 (5 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Strome or Schmaltz?
- Against each other, Strome has won 12 and Schmaltz 7 of their 19 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 →