Who to start · 2025-26
Evan Bouchard vs Will Smith
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Evan Bouchard projects to 3.14 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Will Smith's 1.94.
Bouchard had 95 points in 82 games; Smith had 59 in 69 games.
This week Bouchard has 1 game left; Smith has 1 left. We project Bouchard for 2.4 ESPN points to Smith's 1.6.
Evan Bouchard has the better number in 24 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Bouchard's biggest edges: High-danger chances 57.1%, Faceoffs won 0, Blocked shots 101.
Smith's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 2.05, On-ice PDO 1033, Offensive-zone start % 68.9%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 4 G, 4 A, 1 PPP, 10 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Evan Bouchard
3.14
fantasy points per game
Will Smith
1.94
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Evan Bouchard has the edge.
| Points per game from | Bouchard | Smith |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.92 | 0.90 |
| Assists (+1) | 1.03 | 0.54 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.21 | 0.15 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.30 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.63 | 0.08 |
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 Smith
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.
Bouchard 3G 12A, 21 SOG · Smith 1G 3A, 13 SOG
Bouchard blocked 1 of Smith's shots; Smith blocked 1 of Bouchard's.
On the ice against each other (Bouchard's side)
24:24 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Bouchard's side
- Shot attempts
- 18–20
- 47.4%
- Expected goals
- 1.1–0.5
- 68.1%
- Goals
- 2–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Bouchard | Smith |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-08 | EDM 5–2 SJS | 0G 2A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2026-03-17 | EDM 5–3 SJS | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-02-28 | EDM 4–5 SJS | 1G 2A 3S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2026-01-29 | EDM 4–3 SJS | 1G 2A 5S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2025-04-16 | EDM 3–0 SJS | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-04-11 | EDM 4–2 SJS | 1G 1A 5S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2025-04-03 | EDM 3–2 SJS | 0G 2A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-12-21 | EDM 3–2 SJS | 0G 2A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
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.
Evan Bouchard
3games (1 left)
2.4proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VAN
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VAN
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA2.4 pts
Will Smith
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs FLA
- Sat, Oct 3 vs LAK1.6 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Evan Bouchard or Will Smith 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 Will Smith's 1.94. Bouchard had 95 points in 82 games; Smith had 59 in 69 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 Will Smith?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Evan Bouchard leads in 24 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 Smith done against each other?
- In 8 games against each other in our data, Bouchard's team went 7–1. Bouchard had 15 points (3 goals) and Smith had 4 (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 →