Who to start · 2025-26
Jack Hughes vs Mike Matheson
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jack Hughes projects to 2.55 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mike Matheson's 1.80.
Hughes had 77 points in 61 games; Matheson had 37 in 78 games.
This week Hughes has 1 game left; Matheson has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Hughes for 2.3 ESPN points to Matheson's 1.3.
Jack Hughes has the better number in 21 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Hughes's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 79.3%, Offensive-zone time 45.1%, Corsi 55.9%.
Matheson's biggest edges: Hardest shot 100.6, On-ice PDO 1011, Hits 59.
- • 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, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Jack Hughes
2.55
fantasy points per game
Mike Matheson
1.80
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Jack Hughes has the edge.
| Points per game from | Hughes | Matheson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.95 | 0.17 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.77 | 0.42 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.18 | 0.01 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.38 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.01 | 0.07 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.25 | 0.96 |
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 Matheson
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 10G 18A, 73 SOG · Matheson 6G 10A, 53 SOG
Hughes blocked 3 of Matheson's shots; Matheson blocked 1 of Hughes's.
On the ice against each other (Hughes's side)
23:18 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Hughes's side
- Shot attempts
- 22–22
- 50.0%
- Expected goals
- 1.5–1.2
- 55.6%
- Goals
- 1–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Hughes | Matheson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-05 | NJD 3–0 MTL | 0G 2A 6S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-04-04 | NJD 3–4 MTL | 1G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-11-06 | NJD 4–3 MTL | 0G 2A 6S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-02-08 | NJD 4–0 MTL | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-01-25 | NJD 4–3 MTL | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-11-07 | NJD 5–3 MTL | 1G 2A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-02-24 | NJD 4–3 MTL | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-10-24 | NJD 5–2 MTL | 0G 4A 2S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2023-03-11 | NJD 3–1 MTL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-02-21 | NJD 2–5 MTL | 0G 2A 4S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2022-02-13 | NJD 2–4 PIT | 1G 0A 5S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2022-02-24 | NJD 6–1 PIT | 0G 3A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
Latest 12 of 23 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)
Mike Matheson
2games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ TOROpp allows 14th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ PIT1.3 ptsOpp allows the fewest FP to Dvs Arturs Silovs (.888)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Jack Hughes or Mike Matheson 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 Mike Matheson's 1.80. Hughes had 77 points in 61 games; Matheson had 37 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 Mike Matheson?
- 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 Matheson done against each other?
- In 23 games against each other in our data, Hughes's team went 11–12. Hughes had 28 points (10 goals) and Matheson had 16 (6 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 →