Who to start · 2025-26
Esa Lindell vs Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Esa Lindell projects to 1.72 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins's 1.70.
Lindell had 32 points in 82 games; Nugent-Hopkins had 56 in 72 games.
This week Lindell has 1 game left; Nugent-Hopkins has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Lindell for 1.9 ESPN points to Nugent-Hopkins's 1.1.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has the better number in 19 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Lindell's biggest edges: On-ice PDO 1038, Plus/minus +30, Blocked shots 179.
Nugent-Hopkins's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 46.0%, Forecheck xG /60 0.34, Hardest shot 88.5.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Esa Lindell
1.72
fantasy points per game
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
1.70
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Esa Lindell has the edge.
| Points per game from | Lindell | Nugent-Hopkins |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.15 | 0.56 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.32 | 0.50 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.20 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.10 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 1.09 | 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: Lindell vs Nugent-Hopkins
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.
Lindell 5G 5A, 38 SOG · Nugent-Hopkins 8G 21A, 55 SOG
Lindell blocked 5 of Nugent-Hopkins's shots; Nugent-Hopkins blocked 0 of Lindell's.
On the ice against each other (Lindell's side)
14:12 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Lindell's side
- Shot attempts
- 13–9
- 59.1%
- Expected goals
- 1.3–0.4
- 76.7%
- Goals
- 4–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Lindell | Nugent-Hopkins |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-12 | DAL 7–2 EDM | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-11-04 | DAL 4–3 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-05-29 · PO | DAL 3–6 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-05-27 · PO | DAL 1–4 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 2A 4S |
| 2025-05-25 · PO | DAL 1–6 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 3A 4S |
| 2025-05-23 · PO | DAL 0–3 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2025-05-21 · PO | DAL 6–3 EDM | 1G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2025-03-26 | DAL 4–3 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-03-08 | DAL 4–5 EDM | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-10-19 | DAL 4–1 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-06-02 · PO | DAL 1–2 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-05-31 · PO | DAL 1–3 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 2G 0A 3S |
Latest 12 of 33 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.
Esa Lindell
2games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs STLOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Joel Hofer (.910)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NSHB2B1.9 ptsOpp allows 14th-most FP to DSchedule edge −12.9 win%Likely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
3games (1 left)
1.1proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VANOpp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 6th-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 Esa Lindell or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Esa Lindell projects to 1.72 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins's 1.70. Lindell had 32 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, Esa Lindell or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins leads in 19 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Lindell and Nugent-Hopkins done against each other?
- In 33 games against each other in our data, Lindell's team went 16–17. Lindell had 10 points (5 goals) and Nugent-Hopkins had 29 (8 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 →