Who to start · 2025-26
Jack Hughes vs John Tavares
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jack Hughes projects to 2.55 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to John Tavares's 1.80.
Hughes had 77 points in 61 games; Tavares had 71 in 82 games.
This week Hughes has 1 game left; Tavares has 1 left. We project Hughes for 2.3 ESPN points to Tavares's 1.7.
Jack Hughes has the better number in 23 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Hughes's biggest edges: Scoring chances 56.0%, Transition attempts /60 1.60, Plus/minus 0.
Tavares's biggest edges: Faceoff win % 57.5%, Draw Equity /100 +0.071, Hits 74.
Head to head on the dot, Tavares leads Hughes 13–9.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Jack Hughes
2.55
fantasy points per game
John Tavares
1.80
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Jack Hughes has the edge.
| Points per game from | Hughes | Tavares |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.95 | 0.67 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.77 | 0.49 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.18 | 0.11 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.38 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.01 | 0.09 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.25 | 0.22 |
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: Hughes vs Tavares
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 6G 3A, 46 SOG · Tavares 5G 7A, 46 SOG
Hughes's offensive zone 5–5 · neutral 4–7 · Hughes's defensive zone 0–1 (2019-20 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Hughes's side)
13:15 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Hughes's side
- Shot attempts
- 13–12
- 52.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.9–1.0
- 47.0%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Hughes | Tavares |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-04 | NJD 4–3 TOR | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2025-12-30 | NJD 0–4 TOR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-10-21 | NJD 5–2 TOR | 3G 0A 6S | 1G 1A 5S |
| 2024-12-10 | NJD 1–2 TOR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-10-10 | NJD 2–4 TOR | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2024-03-26 | NJD 6–3 TOR | 2G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2022-11-23 | NJD 1–2 TOR | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2022-11-17 | NJD 3–2 TOR | 0G 1A 6S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2022-03-23 | NJD 2–3 TOR | 0G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-02-01 | NJD 1–7 TOR | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2022-01-31 | NJD 4–6 TOR | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2020-01-14 | NJD 4–7 TOR | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 2A 2S |
Latest 12 of 13 meetings.
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)
John Tavares
3games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs MTLOpp allows 14th-most FP to CLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
- Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2BOpp allows 15th-most FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT1.7 ptsvs Linus Ullmark (.891)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Jack Hughes or John Tavares 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 John Tavares's 1.80. Hughes had 77 points in 61 games; Tavares had 71 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 John Tavares?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Jack Hughes leads in 23 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 Tavares done against each other?
- In 13 games against each other in our data, Hughes's team went 4–9. Hughes had 9 points (6 goals) and Tavares had 12 (5 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Hughes or Tavares?
- Against each other, Hughes has won 9 and Tavares 13 of their 22 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 →