Who to start · 2025-26
Jack Hughes vs Nick Schmaltz
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jack Hughes projects to 2.55 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Nick Schmaltz's 2.05.
Hughes had 77 points in 61 games; Schmaltz had 74 in 82 games.
This week Hughes has 1 game left; Schmaltz has 2 left. We project Schmaltz for 3.1 ESPN points to Hughes's 2.3.
Nick Schmaltz has the better number in 20 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Hughes's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.60, Forecheck xG /60 0.33, Ascension score 51.
Schmaltz's biggest edges: Goals above expected +5.3, On-ice PDO 1007, Hardest shot 89.3.
- • 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, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Jack Hughes
2.55
fantasy points per game
Nick Schmaltz
2.05
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Jack Hughes has the edge.
| Points per game from | Hughes | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.95 | 0.88 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.77 | 0.47 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.18 | 0.11 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.38 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.01 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.25 | 0.30 |
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 Schmaltz
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 1G 12A, 28 SOG · Schmaltz 3G 5A, 16 SOG
Hughes's offensive zone 1–1 · neutral 2–1 · Hughes's defensive zone 2–0 (2019-20 to 2024-25)
On the ice against each other (Hughes's side)
5:51 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Hughes's side
- Shot attempts
- 4–6
- 40.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.6
- 26.3%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Hughes | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-03 | NJD 4–1 UTA | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2025-03-01 | NJD 3–1 UTA | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-10-14 | NJD 3–0 UTA | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-03-16 | NJD 1–4 ARI | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 3A 0S |
| 2023-10-13 | NJD 3–4 ARI | 0G 3A 6S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2023-03-05 | NJD 5–4 ARI | 0G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2022-01-19 | NJD 1–4 ARI | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2019-12-14 | NJD 2–1 ARI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2019-10-25 | NJD 3–5 ARI | 1G 2A 4S | 1G 1A 2S |
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)
Nick Schmaltz
3games (2 left)
3.1proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs CHIOpp allows 8th-most FP to CLikely vs Arvid Soderblom (.880)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ CBJ1.7 ptsOpp allows 16th-most FP to CSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ NYRB2B1.4 ptsOpp allows 15th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Jack Hughes or Nick Schmaltz 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 Nick Schmaltz's 2.05. Hughes had 77 points in 61 games; Schmaltz had 74 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 Nick Schmaltz?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nick Schmaltz leads in 20 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 Schmaltz done against each other?
- In 9 games against each other in our data, Hughes's team went 5–4. Hughes had 13 points (1 goals) and Schmaltz had 8 (3 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Hughes or Schmaltz?
- Against each other, Hughes has won 5 and Schmaltz 2 of their 7 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 →