Who to start · 2025-26
Jack Hughes vs Parker Kelly
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jack Hughes projects to 2.55 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Parker Kelly's 1.51.
Hughes had 77 points in 61 games; Kelly had 35 in 82 games.
This week Hughes has 1 game left; Kelly has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Hughes for 2.3 ESPN points to Kelly's 0.9.
They split the 36 stats both are ranked on 18–18.
Hughes's biggest edges: Power-play share 74.5%, Ice-time share 35.1%, Ice time per game 21:19.
Kelly's biggest edges: Hits 177, Goals above expected +7.5, Hardest shot 90.3.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Jack Hughes
2.55
fantasy points per game
Parker Kelly
1.51
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Jack Hughes has the edge.
| Points per game from | Hughes | Kelly |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.95 | 0.61 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.77 | 0.22 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.18 | 0.00 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.38 | 0.13 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.01 | 0.22 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.25 | 0.33 |
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 Kelly
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 6A, 25 SOG · Kelly 2G 2A, 10 SOG
Hughes's offensive zone 2–0 · neutral 0–1 · Hughes's defensive zone 0–2 (2024-25)
Hughes blocked 0 of Kelly's shots; Kelly blocked 2 of Hughes's.
On the ice against each other (Hughes's side)
3:08 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Hughes's side
- Shot attempts
- 5–4
- 55.6%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.3
- 47.7%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Hughes | Kelly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-10-28 | NJD 4–8 COL | 1G 1A 2S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2025-10-26 | NJD 4–3 COL | 2G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-02-26 | NJD 1–5 COL | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-12-08 | NJD 0–4 COL | 0G 0A 6S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2024-04-06 | NJD 4–3 OTT | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-03-23 | NJD 2–5 OTT | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-12-29 | NJD 6–2 OTT | 1G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-11-19 | NJD 5–1 OTT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-11-10 | NJD 4–3 OTT | 0G 2A 4S | 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)
2.3proj. 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)
Parker Kelly
2games (1 left)
0.9proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows the most FP to CLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL0.9 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Jack Hughes or Parker Kelly 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 Parker Kelly's 1.51. Hughes had 77 points in 61 games; Kelly had 35 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 Parker Kelly?
- On 2025-26 numbers they split 18–18 across 36 stats where both qualify.
- How have Hughes and Kelly done against each other?
- In 9 games against each other in our data, Hughes's team went 5–4. Hughes had 11 points (5 goals) and Kelly had 4 (2 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Hughes or Kelly?
- Against each other, Hughes has won 2 and Kelly 3 of their 5 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 →