Edgehalla

Who to start · 2025-26

Evan Bouchard vs Nick Schmaltz

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Evan Bouchard projects to 3.14 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Nick Schmaltz's 2.05.

Bouchard had 95 points in 82 games; Schmaltz had 74 in 82 games.

This week Bouchard has 1 game left; Schmaltz has 2 left. We project Schmaltz for 4.1 ESPN points to Bouchard's 2.5.

Evan Bouchard has the better number in 21 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

Bouchard's biggest edges: Ascension score 68, Forecheck xG /60 0.35, High-danger chances 57.1%.

Schmaltz's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.052, Top skating speed 23.2, Blocked shots 52.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 4 G, 4 A, 1 PPP, 10 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Evan Bouchard

3.14

fantasy points per game

Nick Schmaltz

2.05

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Evan Bouchard has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromBouchardSchmaltz
Goals (+2)0.920.88
Assists (+1)1.030.47
Power-play points (+0.5)0.210.11
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.010.01
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.300.25
Hits (+0.1)0.040.03
Blocks (+0.5)0.630.30

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: Bouchard vs Schmaltz

Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.

BouchardSchmaltz
11Team record in 14 meetings3
18Points in those games9

Bouchard 1G 17A, 31 SOG · Schmaltz 2G 7A, 31 SOG

On the ice against each other (Bouchard's side)

21:34 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Bouchard's side

Shot attempts
10–18
35.7%
Expected goals
0.5–0.8
38.5%
Goals
1–1

Games against each other

Games between Evan Bouchard and Nick Schmaltz
DateScoreBouchardSchmaltz
2026-04-07EDM 5–6 UTA0G 1A 0S2G 0A 4S
2026-03-24EDM 5–2 UTA0G 3A 3S0G 0A 0S
2025-10-28EDM 6–3 UTA0G 3A 0S0G 1A 3S
2025-03-18EDM 7–1 UTA0G 1A 3S0G 0A 2S
2024-12-31EDM 4–1 UTA0G 1A 3S0G 0A 1S
2024-11-29EDM 4–3 UTA0G 2A 2S0G 0A 5S
2024-04-17EDM 2–5 ARI0G 1A 3S0G 0A 1S
2024-04-12EDM 2–3 ARI0G 0A 3S0G 1A 4S
2024-02-19EDM 6–3 ARI0G 3A 2S0G 1A 0S
2023-03-27EDM 5–4 ARI1G 1A 1S0G 2A 5S
2023-03-22EDM 4–3 ARI0G 0A 1S0G 2A 1S
2022-12-07EDM 8–2 ARI0G 0A 3S0G 0A 0S

Latest 12 of 14 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.

BouchardSchmaltz

Fantasy box score

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.

Evan Bouchard

3games (1 left)

2.5proj. ESPN pts (season rate)

  • Tue, Sep 29 vs VAN
  • Thu, Oct 1 @ VAN
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA2.5 pts

Nick Schmaltz

3games (2 left)

4.1proj. ESPN pts (season rate)

  • Thu, Oct 1 vs CHI
  • Sat, Oct 3 @ CBJ2.0 pts
    Schedule edge −1.0 win%
  • Sun, Oct 4 @ NYRB2B2.0 pts
    Schedule edge −9.3 win%

FAQ

Should I start Evan Bouchard or Nick Schmaltz in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Evan Bouchard projects to 3.14 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Nick Schmaltz's 2.05. Bouchard had 95 points in 82 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, Evan Bouchard or Nick Schmaltz?
On 2025-26 numbers, Evan Bouchard leads in 21 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
How have Bouchard and Schmaltz done against each other?
In 14 games against each other in our data, Bouchard's team went 11–3. Bouchard had 18 points (1 goals) and Schmaltz had 9 (2 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 →