Who to start · 2025-26
Jack Hughes vs Joel Eriksson Ek
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jack Hughes projects to 2.55 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Joel Eriksson Ek's 1.70.
Hughes had 77 points in 61 games; Eriksson Ek had 51 in 70 games.
This week Hughes has 1 game left; Eriksson Ek has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Hughes for 2.3 ESPN points to Eriksson Ek's 1.3.
Jack Hughes has the better number in 24 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Hughes's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 79.3%, Forecheck xG /60 0.33, Scoring chances 56.0%.
Eriksson Ek's biggest edges: On-ice PDO 1037, Hits 106, Hardest shot 91.4.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Jack Hughes
2.55
fantasy points per game
Joel Eriksson Ek
1.70
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Jack Hughes has the edge.
| Points per game from | Hughes | Eriksson Ek |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.95 | 0.51 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.77 | 0.43 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.18 | 0.11 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.38 | 0.28 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.01 | 0.15 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.25 | 0.23 |
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 Eriksson Ek
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.
Hughes 0G 3A, 22 SOG · Eriksson Ek 0G 3A, 15 SOG
Hughes's offensive zone 2–5 · neutral 0–1 · Hughes's defensive zone 0–0 (2023-24 to 2025-26)
Hughes blocked 0 of Eriksson Ek's shots; Eriksson Ek blocked 3 of Hughes's.
On the ice against each other (Hughes's side)
2:04 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Hughes's side
- Shot attempts
- 2–0
- 100.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.0
- 100.0%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Hughes | Eriksson Ek |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-10-22 | NJD 4–1 MIN | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-11-02 | NJD 5–3 MIN | 0G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-10-29 | NJD 4–3 MIN | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2023-03-21 | NJD 1–2 MIN | 0G 0A 10S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2021-12-02 | NJD 2–5 MIN | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2019-11-26 | NJD 2–3 MIN | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
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 Cvs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
Joel Eriksson Ek
2games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NSHOpp allows 10th-most FP to CLikely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs BOS1.3 ptsOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +13.0 win%Likely vs Michael DiPietro (1.000)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Jack Hughes or Joel Eriksson Ek 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 Joel Eriksson Ek's 1.70. Hughes had 77 points in 61 games; Eriksson Ek had 51 in 70 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 Joel Eriksson Ek?
- 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 Hughes and Eriksson Ek done against each other?
- In 6 games against each other in our data, Hughes's team went 3–3. Hughes had 3 points (0 goals) and Eriksson Ek had 3 (0 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Hughes or Eriksson Ek?
- Against each other, Hughes has won 2 and Eriksson Ek 6 of their 8 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 →