Who to start · 2025-26
Emil Heineman vs Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins projects to 1.70 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Emil Heineman's 1.57.
Heineman had 31 points in 82 games; Nugent-Hopkins had 56 in 72 games.
This week Heineman has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Nugent-Hopkins has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Heineman for 1.2 ESPN points to Nugent-Hopkins's 1.1.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has the better number in 21 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Heineman's biggest edges: Hits 247, 20+ mph bursts 177, Blocked shots 54.
Nugent-Hopkins's biggest edges: High-danger chances 54.8%, Offensive-zone time 46.0%, Assists 36.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Emil Heineman
1.51
fantasy points per game
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
1.70
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has the edge.
| Points per game from | Heineman | Nugent-Hopkins |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.54 | 0.56 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.11 | 0.50 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.20 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.21 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.30 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.33 | 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: Heineman vs Nugent-Hopkins
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.
Heineman 0G 1A, 4 SOG · Nugent-Hopkins 1G 1A, 11 SOG
On the ice against each other (Heineman's side)
1:05 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Heineman's side
- Shot attempts
- 0–3
- 0.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.0–0.0
- 0.0%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Heineman | Nugent-Hopkins |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-15 | NYI 1–0 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-10-16 | NYI 4–2 EDM | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2025-03-06 | MTL 2–3 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-11-18 | MTL 3–0 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 5S |
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.
Emil Heineman
2games (1 left)
1.2proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ TOROpp allows 11th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Anthony Stolarz (.893)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs NJD1.2 ptsOpp allows 8th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Jake Allen (.904)
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 Emil Heineman or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins projects to 1.70 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Emil Heineman's 1.57. Heineman had 31 points in 82 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, Emil Heineman or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins leads in 21 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Heineman and Nugent-Hopkins done against each other?
- In 4 games against each other in our data, Heineman's team went 3–1. Heineman had 1 points (0 goals) and Nugent-Hopkins had 2 (1 goals).
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 →