Who to start · 2025-26
Evgeni Malkin vs Jack Hughes
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jack Hughes projects to 2.55 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Evgeni Malkin's 2.12.
Malkin had 61 points in 56 games; Hughes had 77 in 61 games.
This week Malkin has 1 game left; Hughes has 1 left. We project Hughes for 2.3 ESPN points to Malkin's 1.6.
Jack Hughes has the better number in 24 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Malkin's biggest edges: On-ice PDO 1034, Penalty minutes 61, Hardest shot 93.1.
Hughes's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.55, Ascension score 51, 20+ mph bursts 128.
Head to head on the dot, Malkin leads Hughes 9–9.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Evgeni Malkin
2.12
fantasy points per game
Jack Hughes
2.55
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Jack Hughes has the edge.
| Points per game from | Malkin | Hughes |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.76 | 0.95 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.70 | 0.77 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.18 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.02 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.26 | 0.38 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.01 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.14 | 0.25 |
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: Malkin vs Hughes
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2019-20 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Malkin 10G 6A, 43 SOG · Hughes 5G 11A, 53 SOG
Malkin's offensive zone 5–1 · neutral 2–6 · Malkin's defensive zone 2–2 (2019-20 to 2025-26)
Malkin blocked 1 of Hughes's shots; Hughes blocked 0 of Malkin's.
On the ice against each other (Malkin's side)
18:03 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Malkin's side
- Shot attempts
- 17–17
- 50.0%
- Expected goals
- 1.5–0.7
- 67.8%
- Goals
- 2–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Malkin | Hughes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-09 | PIT 5–2 NJD | 1G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2026-02-26 | PIT 4–1 NJD | 0G 2A 5S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2026-01-08 | PIT 4–1 NJD | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-11-08 | PIT 1–2 NJD | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2024-12-21 | PIT 0–3 NJD | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-04-02 | PIT 6–3 NJD | 2G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-03-19 | PIT 2–5 NJD | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 4S |
| 2023-04-04 | PIT 1–5 NJD | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2023-02-18 | PIT 2–5 NJD | 2G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2023-01-22 | PIT 1–2 NJD | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2022-12-30 | PIT 2–4 NJD | 1G 0A 3S | 2G 0A 6S |
| 2022-02-13 | PIT 4–2 NJD | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 5S |
Latest 12 of 16 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.
Evgeni Malkin
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 7th-most FP to CLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL1.6 ptsOpp allows 14th-most FP to Cvs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Jack Hughes
2games (1 left)
2.3proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs PHIOpp allows 7th-most FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Joseph Woll (.899)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NYI2.3 ptsOpp allows 15th-most FP to CSchedule edge −4.0 win%vs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Evgeni Malkin or Jack Hughes in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jack Hughes projects to 2.55 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Evgeni Malkin's 2.12. Malkin had 61 points in 56 games; Hughes had 77 in 61 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, Evgeni Malkin or Jack Hughes?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Jack Hughes leads in 24 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Malkin and Hughes done against each other?
- In 16 games against each other in our data, Malkin's team went 7–9. Malkin had 16 points (10 goals) and Hughes had 16 (5 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Malkin or Hughes?
- Against each other, Malkin has won 9 and Hughes 9 of their 18 head-to-head draws.
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 →