Who to start · 2025-26
Erik Karlsson 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 Erik Karlsson's 1.96.
Karlsson had 66 points in 75 games; Schmaltz had 74 in 82 games.
This week Karlsson has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Schmaltz has 2 left. We project Schmaltz for 3.1 ESPN points to Karlsson's 1.3.
Nick Schmaltz has the better number in 20 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Karlsson's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 0.43, Forecheck xG /60 0.32, On-ice PDO 1017.
Schmaltz's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.052, Blocked shots 52, Penalty minutes 28.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Erik Karlsson
1.96
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 | Karlsson | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.38 | 0.88 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.70 | 0.47 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.19 | 0.11 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.24 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.03 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.43 | 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: Karlsson 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.
Karlsson 2G 17A, 59 SOG · Schmaltz 6G 12A, 45 SOG
Karlsson blocked 4 of Schmaltz's shots; Schmaltz blocked 2 of Karlsson's.
On the ice against each other (Karlsson's side)
15:43 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Karlsson's side
- Shot attempts
- 8–19
- 29.6%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.9
- 32.3%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Karlsson | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-14 | PIT 4–3 UTA | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-12-14 | PIT 4–5 UTA | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 8S |
| 2025-01-29 | PIT 3–2 UTA | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-11-23 | PIT 1–6 UTA | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2023-12-12 | PIT 4–2 ARI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-04-01 | SJS 7–2 ARI | 0G 4A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-01-10 | SJS 4–2 ARI | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-12-13 | SJS 3–2 ARI | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-03-30 | SJS 2–5 ARI | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2022-03-20 | SJS 4–2 ARI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2021-12-28 | SJS 8–7 ARI | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2021-04-28 | SJS 4–2 ARI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
Latest 12 of 23 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.
Erik Karlsson
2games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 2nd-most FP to DLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL1.3 ptsOpp allows 7th-fewest FP to Dvs Jakub Dobes (.901)
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 Erik Karlsson 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 Erik Karlsson's 1.96. Karlsson had 66 points in 75 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, Erik Karlsson or Nick Schmaltz?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nick Schmaltz leads in 20 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Karlsson and Schmaltz done against each other?
- In 23 games against each other in our data, Karlsson's team went 13–10. Karlsson had 19 points (2 goals) and Schmaltz had 18 (6 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 →