Who to start · 2025-26
Jack Hughes vs Jackson LaCombe
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jack Hughes projects to 2.55 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Jackson LaCombe's 2.03.
Hughes had 77 points in 61 games; LaCombe had 58 in 82 games.
This week Hughes has 1 game left; LaCombe has 1 left. We project Hughes for 2.3 ESPN points to LaCombe's 1.8.
Jack Hughes has the better number in 22 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Hughes's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 79.3%, Transition attempts /60 1.60, Goals above expected −1.3.
LaCombe's biggest edges: Hits 74, Hardest shot 95.4, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.009.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Jack Hughes
2.55
fantasy points per game
Jackson LaCombe
2.03
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Jack Hughes has the edge.
| Points per game from | Hughes | LaCombe |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.95 | 0.23 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.77 | 0.61 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.18 | 0.10 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.38 | 0.19 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.01 | 0.09 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.25 | 0.79 |
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: Hughes vs LaCombe
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2023-24 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Hughes 2G 1A, 21 SOG · LaCombe 0G 4A, 6 SOG
Hughes blocked 0 of LaCombe's shots; LaCombe blocked 4 of Hughes's.
On the ice against each other (Hughes's side)
7:27 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Hughes's side
- Shot attempts
- 8–8
- 50.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.5
- 23.5%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Hughes | LaCombe |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-02 | NJD 1–4 ANA | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-12-31 | NJD 2–3 ANA | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2024-03-01 | NJD 3–4 ANA | 1G 1A 9S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-12-17 | NJD 1–5 ANA | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 0S |
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 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)
Jackson LaCombe
2games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ VGKOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Carter Hart (.891)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs FLA1.8 ptsOpp allows 15th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Jacob Markstrom (.883)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Jack Hughes or Jackson LaCombe 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 Jackson LaCombe's 2.03. Hughes had 77 points in 61 games; LaCombe had 58 in 82 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 Hughes or Jackson LaCombe?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Jack Hughes leads in 22 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Hughes and LaCombe done against each other?
- In 4 games against each other in our data, Hughes's team went 0–4. Hughes had 3 points (2 goals) and LaCombe had 4 (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 →