Who to start · 2025-26
Jack Hughes vs Leon Draisaitl
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Leon Draisaitl projects to 2.96 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Jack Hughes's 2.55.
Hughes had 77 points in 61 games; Draisaitl had 97 in 65 games.
This week Hughes has 1 game left; Draisaitl has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Hughes for 2.3 ESPN points to Draisaitl's 2.0.
Leon Draisaitl has the better number in 24 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Hughes's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.60, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.55, Blocked shots 32.
Draisaitl's biggest edges: Draw Equity /100 +0.077, Faceoff win % 56.9%, Goals above expected +1.8.
Head to head on the dot, Draisaitl leads Hughes 16–11.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 2 G, 2 A, 2 PPP, 10 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Jack Hughes
2.55
fantasy points per game
Leon Draisaitl
2.96
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Leon Draisaitl has the edge.
| Points per game from | Hughes | Draisaitl |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.95 | 1.19 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.77 | 0.96 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.18 | 0.34 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.38 | 0.31 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.01 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.25 | 0.10 |
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 Draisaitl
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 4G 4A, 31 SOG · Draisaitl 6G 3A, 30 SOG
Hughes's offensive zone 4–6 · neutral 4–8 · Hughes's defensive zone 3–2 (2021-22 to 2024-25)
On the ice against each other (Hughes's side)
3:31 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Hughes's side
- Shot attempts
- 4–2
- 66.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.0
- 98.5%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Hughes | Draisaitl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-10-18 | NJD 5–3 EDM | 2G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-11-04 | NJD 3–0 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-12-21 | NJD 3–6 EDM | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2023-12-10 | NJD 1–4 EDM | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-11-21 | NJD 5–2 EDM | 0G 2A 2S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2022-11-03 | NJD 4–3 EDM | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2022-03-19 | NJD 3–6 EDM | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 1A 5S |
| 2021-12-31 | NJD 6–5 EDM | 2G 1A 7S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2019-11-08 | NJD 0–4 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2019-10-10 | NJD 3–4 EDM | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 5S |
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)
Leon Draisaitl
3games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VANOpp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA2.0 ptsOpp allows 6th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Jack Hughes or Leon Draisaitl in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Leon Draisaitl projects to 2.96 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Jack Hughes's 2.55. Hughes had 77 points in 61 games; Draisaitl had 97 in 65 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 Leon Draisaitl?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Leon Draisaitl 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 Draisaitl done against each other?
- In 10 games against each other in our data, Hughes's team went 5–5. Hughes had 8 points (4 goals) and Draisaitl had 9 (6 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Hughes or Draisaitl?
- Against each other, Hughes has won 11 and Draisaitl 16 of their 27 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 →