Who to start · 2025-26
Elias Pettersson vs Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Elias Pettersson projects to 2.34 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins's 1.70.
Pettersson had 51 points in 74 games; Nugent-Hopkins had 56 in 72 games.
This week Pettersson has 2 games left with 1 soft and 1 tough matchups; Nugent-Hopkins has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Pettersson for 3.8 ESPN points to Nugent-Hopkins's 1.1.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has the better number in 24 of the 35 stats both are ranked on.
Pettersson's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.002, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.60, Blocked shots 108.
Nugent-Hopkins's biggest edges: Goals above expected +2.1, Expected goals 51.2%, Sequence xG 51.1%.
Head to head on the dot, Nugent-Hopkins leads Pettersson 39–28.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 2 G, 2 A, 2 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Elias Pettersson
2.05
fantasy points per game
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
1.70
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Elias Pettersson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Pettersson | Nugent-Hopkins |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.41 | 0.56 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.49 | 0.50 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.15 | 0.20 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.09 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.73 | 0.22 |
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: Pettersson vs Nugent-Hopkins
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2018-19 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Pettersson 9G 16A, 81 SOG · Nugent-Hopkins 13G 21A, 79 SOG
Pettersson's offensive zone 12–18 · neutral 8–14 · Pettersson's defensive zone 8–7 (2018-19 to 2025-26)
Pettersson blocked 1 of Nugent-Hopkins's shots; Nugent-Hopkins blocked 1 of Pettersson's.
On the ice against each other (Pettersson's side)
20:54 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Pettersson's side
- Shot attempts
- 10–31
- 24.4%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–2.0
- 13.2%
- Goals
- 0–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Pettersson | Nugent-Hopkins |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-16 | VAN 1–6 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2026-01-17 | VAN 0–6 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2025-10-26 | VAN 4–3 EDM | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-10-11 | VAN 1–3 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-01-23 | VAN 2–6 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2025-01-18 | VAN 3–2 EDM | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-11-09 | VAN 3–7 EDM | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-05-20 · PO | VAN 2–3 EDM | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2024-05-18 · PO | VAN 1–5 EDM | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 2A 1S |
| 2024-05-16 · PO | VAN 3–2 EDM | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-05-14 · PO | VAN 2–3 EDM | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2024-05-12 · PO | VAN 4–3 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
Latest 12 of 34 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 Pettersson
4games (2 left)
3.8proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ EDMOpp allows 9th-most FP to CLikely vs Tristan Jarry (.882)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs EDMOpp allows 9th-most FP to CLikely vs Devon Levi (.682)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CGY2.3 ptsOpp allows 2nd-most FP to CLikely vs Dustin Wolf (.899)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs VGKB2B1.5 ptsOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Carter Hart (.891)
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
3games (1 left)
1.1proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VANOpp allows 4th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 4th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.1 ptsOpp allows 6th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Elias Pettersson or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Elias Pettersson projects to 2.34 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins's 1.70. Pettersson had 51 points in 74 games; Nugent-Hopkins had 56 in 72 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 Pettersson or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins leads in 24 of 35 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Pettersson and Nugent-Hopkins done against each other?
- In 34 games against each other in our data, Pettersson's team went 14–20. Pettersson had 25 points (9 goals) and Nugent-Hopkins had 34 (13 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Pettersson or Nugent-Hopkins?
- Against each other, Pettersson has won 28 and Nugent-Hopkins 39 of their 67 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 →