Who to start · 2025-26
Elias Lindholm 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 Elias Lindholm's 1.78.
Lindholm had 48 points in 69 games; Schmaltz had 74 in 82 games.
This week Lindholm has 1 game left; Schmaltz has 2 left. We project Schmaltz for 3.4 ESPN points to Lindholm's 1.5.
Nick Schmaltz has the better number in 28 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Lindholm's biggest edges: Draw Equity /100 +0.081, Faceoff win % 56.1%, Transition attempts /60 1.40.
Schmaltz's biggest edges: Top skating speed 23.2, 20+ mph bursts 208, Fenwick 55.7%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Elias Lindholm
1.78
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 | Lindholm | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.55 | 0.88 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.46 | 0.47 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.13 | 0.11 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.06 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.41 | 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: Lindholm 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.
Lindholm 6G 14A, 46 SOG · Schmaltz 1G 7A, 36 SOG
Lindholm's offensive zone 1–2 · neutral 0–1 · Lindholm's defensive zone 1–2 (2019-20 to 2025-26)
Lindholm blocked 0 of Schmaltz's shots; Schmaltz blocked 1 of Lindholm's.
On the ice against each other (Lindholm's side)
5:56 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Lindholm's side
- Shot attempts
- 3–6
- 33.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.2
- 57.0%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Lindholm | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-16 | BOS 4–1 UTA | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-10-19 | BOS 2–3 UTA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2024-11-21 | BOS 1–0 UTA | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-10-19 | BOS 1–2 UTA | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2024-04-10 | VAN 3–4 ARI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-01-16 | CGY 3–2 ARI | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-01-11 | CGY 6–2 ARI | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2023-02-22 | CGY 6–3 ARI | 1G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2022-12-05 | CGY 3–2 ARI | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2022-04-16 | CGY 9–1 ARI | 1G 3A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2022-03-25 | CGY 4–2 ARI | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2022-02-02 | CGY 4–2 ARI | 1G 0A 6S | 0G 1A 0S |
Latest 12 of 19 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.
Elias Lindholm
3games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs NYR
- Fri, Oct 2 @ WPG
- Sat, Oct 3 @ MINB2B1.5 ptsSchedule edge −9.3 win%
Nick Schmaltz
3games (2 left)
3.4proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs CHI
- Sat, Oct 3 @ CBJ1.7 ptsSchedule edge −1.0 win%
- Sun, Oct 4 @ NYRB2B1.7 ptsSchedule edge −9.3 win%
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Elias Lindholm 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 Elias Lindholm's 1.78. Lindholm had 48 points in 69 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, Elias Lindholm or Nick Schmaltz?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nick Schmaltz leads in 28 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Lindholm and Schmaltz done against each other?
- In 19 games against each other in our data, Lindholm's team went 14–5. Lindholm had 20 points (6 goals) and Schmaltz had 8 (1 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Lindholm or Schmaltz?
- Against each other, Lindholm has won 2 and Schmaltz 5 of their 7 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 →