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Who to start · 2025-26

Evgeni Malkin vs Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

Evgeni MalkinEvgeni MalkinPenguins · CentrevsRyan Nugent-HopkinsRyan Nugent-HopkinsOilers · Centre

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Evgeni Malkin projects to 2.12 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins's 1.70.

Malkin had 61 points in 56 games; Nugent-Hopkins had 56 in 72 games.

This week Malkin has 1 game left; Nugent-Hopkins has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Malkin for 1.6 ESPN points to Nugent-Hopkins's 1.1.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has the better number in 20 of the 35 stats both are ranked on.

Malkin's biggest edges: On-ice PDO 1034, Plus/minus +13, Penalty minutes 61.

Nugent-Hopkins's biggest edges: Top skating speed 22.8, Goals above expected +2.6, Transition attempts /60 1.26.

Head to head on the dot, Nugent-Hopkins leads Malkin 14–10.

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

Fantasy value: your scoring

Evgeni Malkin

2.08

fantasy points per game

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

1.70

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Evgeni Malkin has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromMalkinNugent-Hopkins
Goals (+2)0.680.56
Assists (+1)0.750.50
Power-play points (+0.5)0.200.20
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.000.01
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.260.18
Hits (+0.1)0.040.03
Blocks (+0.5)0.150.22

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: Malkin 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.

MalkinNugent-Hopkins
5Team record in 12 meetings7
10Points in those games10

Malkin 3G 7A, 32 SOG · Nugent-Hopkins 4G 6A, 30 SOG

10Faceoffs against each other14

Malkin's offensive zone 2–4 · neutral 4–7 · Malkin's defensive zone 4–3 (2017-18 to 2023-24)

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

3:47 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Malkin's side

Shot attempts
7–3
70.0%
Expected goals
0.6–0.1
83.6%
Goals
1–0

Games against each other

Games between Evgeni Malkin and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
DateScoreMalkinNugent-Hopkins
2026-01-22PIT 6–2 EDM1G 1A 2S0G 0A 0S
2024-10-25PIT 0–4 EDM0G 0A 0S1G 0A 4S
2024-03-10PIT 0–4 EDM0G 0A 0S0G 1A 3S
2024-03-03PIT 1–6 EDM1G 0A 2S0G 0A 2S
2023-02-23PIT 2–7 EDM0G 2A 3S1G 1A 3S
2022-10-24PIT 3–6 EDM0G 1A 4S1G 1A 1S
2022-04-26PIT 1–5 EDM0G 0A 4S0G 1A 3S
2019-12-20PIT 5–2 EDM0G 1A 6S0G 0A 0S
2019-11-02PIT 1–2 EDM0G 0A 6S0G 0A 5S
2018-10-23PIT 6–5 EDM0G 1A 0S0G 2A 3S
2017-11-01PIT 3–2 EDM1G 0A 5S1G 0A 3S
2017-10-24PIT 2–1 EDM0G 1A 0S0G 0A 3S

Every stat, side by side

Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.

MalkinNugent-Hopkins

Fantasy box score

Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

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 @ PHI
    Opp allows 7th-most FP to CLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL1.6 pts
    Opp allows 14th-most FP to Cvs Jakub Dobes (.901)

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

3games (1 left)

1.1proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 vs VAN
    Opp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
  • Thu, Oct 1 @ VAN
    Opp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.1 pts
    Opp allows 6th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Evgeni Malkin or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Evgeni Malkin projects to 2.12 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins's 1.70. Malkin had 61 points in 56 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, Evgeni Malkin or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins?
On 2025-26 numbers, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins leads in 20 of 35 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
How have Malkin and Nugent-Hopkins done against each other?
In 12 games against each other in our data, Malkin's team went 5–7. Malkin had 10 points (3 goals) and Nugent-Hopkins had 10 (4 goals).
Who wins more faceoffs, Malkin or Nugent-Hopkins?
Against each other, Malkin has won 10 and Nugent-Hopkins 14 of their 24 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 →