Who to start · 2025-26
Jack Hughes vs Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jack Hughes projects to 2.55 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins's 1.70.
Hughes had 77 points in 61 games; Nugent-Hopkins had 56 in 72 games.
This week Hughes has 1 game left; Nugent-Hopkins has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Hughes for 2.3 ESPN points to Nugent-Hopkins's 1.1.
Jack Hughes has the better number in 20 of the 35 stats both are ranked on.
Hughes's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.55, Fenwick 55.3%, Scoring chances 56.0%.
Nugent-Hopkins's biggest edges: Goals above expected +2.6, Hardest shot 88.5, Draw Equity /100 −0.031.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Jack Hughes
2.55
fantasy points per game
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
1.70
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Jack Hughes has the edge.
| Points per game from | Hughes | Nugent-Hopkins |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.89 | 0.56 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.82 | 0.50 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.19 | 0.20 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.37 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.01 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.26 | 0.22 |
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 Nugent-Hopkins
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, 28 SOG · Nugent-Hopkins 4G 7A, 26 SOG
Hughes's offensive zone 3–1 · neutral 1–1 · Hughes's defensive zone 1–1 (2019-20 to 2024-25)
On the ice against each other (Hughes's side)
5:14 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Hughes's side
- Shot attempts
- 3–8
- 27.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.2
- 60.6%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Hughes | Nugent-Hopkins |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-20 | NJD 2–1 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-10-18 | NJD 5–3 EDM | 2G 1A 4S | 2G 0A 3S |
| 2024-11-04 | NJD 3–0 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-12-21 | NJD 3–6 EDM | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 1A 5S |
| 2023-12-10 | NJD 1–4 EDM | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2022-11-21 | NJD 5–2 EDM | 0G 2A 2S | 1G 0A 7S |
| 2022-11-03 | NJD 4–3 EDM | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2021-12-31 | NJD 6–5 EDM | 2G 1A 7S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2019-11-08 | NJD 0–4 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2019-10-10 | NJD 3–4 EDM | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 2A 0S |
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)
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
3games (1 left)
1.1proj. 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 SEA1.1 ptsOpp allows 6th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Jack Hughes or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins 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 Ryan Nugent-Hopkins's 1.70. Hughes had 77 points in 61 games; Nugent-Hopkins had 56 in 72 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 Ryan Nugent-Hopkins?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Jack Hughes leads in 20 of 35 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Hughes and Nugent-Hopkins done against each other?
- In 10 games against each other in our data, Hughes's team went 6–4. Hughes had 8 points (4 goals) and Nugent-Hopkins had 11 (4 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Hughes or Nugent-Hopkins?
- Against each other, Hughes has won 5 and Nugent-Hopkins 3 of their 8 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 →