Who to start · 2025-26
Evgeni Malkin vs Will Smith
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Evgeni Malkin projects to 2.12 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Will Smith's 1.94.
Malkin had 61 points in 56 games; Smith had 59 in 69 games.
This week Malkin has 1 game left; Smith has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Smith for 1.9 ESPN points to Malkin's 1.6.
Evgeni Malkin has the better number in 18 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Malkin's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 61, High-danger chances 50.4%, Forecheck xG /60 0.37.
Smith's biggest edges: Ascension score 64, Transition attempts /60 2.05, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.10.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Evgeni Malkin
2.12
fantasy points per game
Will Smith
1.94
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Evgeni Malkin has the edge.
| Points per game from | Malkin | Smith |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.76 | 0.90 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.70 | 0.54 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.15 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.26 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.14 | 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: Malkin 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.
Malkin 1G 2A, 2 SOG · Smith 0G 1A, 3 SOG
Malkin blocked 1 of Smith's shots; Smith blocked 0 of Malkin's.
On the ice against each other (Malkin's side)
1:56 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Malkin's side
- Shot attempts
- 2–2
- 50.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.0–0.2
- 16.8%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Malkin | Smith |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-10-18 | PIT 3–0 SJS | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-11-16 | PIT 4–3 SJS | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
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)
Will Smith
2games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs FLAOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Akira Schmid (.892)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs LAK1.9 ptsOpp allows the most FP to CSchedule edge +3.3 win%Likely vs Anton Forsberg (.910)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Evgeni Malkin or Will Smith 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 Will Smith's 1.94. Malkin had 61 points in 56 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, Evgeni Malkin or Will Smith?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Evgeni Malkin leads in 18 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Malkin and Smith done against each other?
- In 2 games against each other in our data, Malkin's team went 2–0. Malkin had 3 points (1 goals) and Smith had 1 (0 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 →