Who to start · 2025-26
Jack Eichel vs Will Smith
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jack Eichel projects to 2.65 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Will Smith's 1.94.
Eichel had 90 points in 74 games; Smith had 59 in 69 games.
This week Eichel has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Smith has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Eichel for 2.9 ESPN points to Smith's 1.9.
Jack Eichel has the better number in 28 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Eichel's biggest edges: High-danger chances 59.8%, Blocked shots 40, Expected goals 60.0%.
Smith's biggest edges: Goals above expected +2.1, Luck Meter +39, On-ice PDO 1033.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 4 A, 2 PPP, 4 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Jack Eichel
2.65
fantasy points per game
Will Smith
1.94
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Jack Eichel has the edge.
| Points per game from | Eichel | Smith |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.76 | 0.90 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.99 | 0.54 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.23 | 0.15 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.33 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.27 | 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: Eichel 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.
Eichel 3G 5A, 14 SOG · Smith 3G 1A, 12 SOG
Eichel's offensive zone 1–0 · neutral 0–0 · Eichel's defensive zone 0–0 (2024-25)
Eichel blocked 1 of Smith's shots; Smith blocked 0 of Eichel's.
On the ice against each other (Eichel's side)
12:34 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Eichel's side
- Shot attempts
- 15–9
- 62.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.7–0.2
- 80.2%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Eichel | Smith |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-29 | VGK 4–3 SJS | 0G 1A 2S | 2G 0A 4S |
| 2025-10-09 | VGK 4–3 SJS | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-01-07 | VGK 4–2 SJS | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-12-27 | VGK 6–3 SJS | 1G 1A 2S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2024-10-26 | VGK 7–3 SJS | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 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.
Jack Eichel
3games (1 left)
2.9proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs CHIOpp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs ANALikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ VAN2.9 ptsOpp allows 4th-most FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
Will Smith
2games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs FLAOpp allows 9th-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 Jack Eichel or Will Smith in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jack Eichel projects to 2.65 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Will Smith's 1.94. Eichel had 90 points in 74 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, Jack Eichel or Will Smith?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Jack Eichel leads in 28 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Eichel and Smith done against each other?
- In 5 games against each other in our data, Eichel's team went 5–0. Eichel had 8 points (3 goals) and Smith had 4 (3 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Eichel or Smith?
- Against each other, Eichel has won 1 and Smith 0 of their 1 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 →