Who to start · 2025-26
Jack Hughes vs Mattias Samuelsson
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jack Hughes projects to 2.55 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mattias Samuelsson's 2.01.
Hughes had 77 points in 61 games; Samuelsson had 41 in 78 games.
This week Hughes has 1 game left; Samuelsson has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Hughes for 2.4 ESPN points to Samuelsson's 2.0.
Jack Hughes has the better number in 21 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Hughes's biggest edges: Power-play share 74.5%, Offensive-zone time 45.1%, Offensive-zone start % 79.3%.
Samuelsson's biggest edges: Hits 132, On-ice PDO 1036, Hardest shot 98.1.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Jack Hughes
2.55
fantasy points per game
Mattias Samuelsson
2.01
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Jack Hughes has the edge.
| Points per game from | Hughes | Samuelsson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.95 | 0.44 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.77 | 0.34 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.18 | 0.00 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.02 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.38 | 0.14 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.01 | 0.16 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.25 | 0.93 |
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 Samuelsson
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2022-23 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Hughes 5G 4A, 28 SOG · Samuelsson 1G 1A, 14 SOG
Hughes blocked 0 of Samuelsson's shots; Samuelsson blocked 1 of Hughes's.
On the ice against each other (Hughes's side)
16:17 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Hughes's side
- Shot attempts
- 6–17
- 26.1%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.7
- 20.0%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Hughes | Samuelsson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-25 | NJD 1–2 BUF | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-12-21 | NJD 1–3 BUF | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-02-02 | NJD 3–4 BUF | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-10-05 | NJD 3–1 BUF | 0G 2A 6S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-10-04 | NJD 4–1 BUF | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-11-25 | NJD 7–2 BUF | 0G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-10-27 | NJD 5–4 BUF | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-04-11 | NJD 6–2 BUF | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2022-11-25 | NJD 3–1 BUF | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 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)
2.4proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs PHIOpp allows 5th-most FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Joseph Woll (.899)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NYI2.4 ptsOpp allows 13th-most FP to Cvs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
Mattias Samuelsson
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ CBJOpp allows 8th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CHI2.0 ptsOpp allows 4th-most FP to DLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Jack Hughes or Mattias Samuelsson 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 Mattias Samuelsson's 2.01. Hughes had 77 points in 61 games; Samuelsson had 41 in 78 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 Mattias Samuelsson?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Jack Hughes leads in 21 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 Samuelsson done against each other?
- In 9 games against each other in our data, Hughes's team went 6–3. Hughes had 9 points (5 goals) and Samuelsson had 2 (1 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 →

