Who to start · 2025-26
Jack Hughes vs Ryan O'Reilly
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jack Hughes projects to 2.55 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ryan O'Reilly's 1.90.
Hughes had 77 points in 61 games; O'Reilly had 74 in 81 games.
This week Hughes has 1 game left; O'Reilly has 1 left. We project Hughes for 2.6 ESPN points to O'Reilly's 2.0.
Jack Hughes has the better number in 21 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Hughes's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 79.3%, Transition attempts /60 1.60, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.55.
O'Reilly's biggest edges: Faceoff win % 55.1%, Draw Equity /100 +0.056, On-ice PDO 1023.
Head to head on the dot, O'Reilly leads Hughes 7–4.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Jack Hughes
2.55
fantasy points per game
Ryan O'Reilly
1.90
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Jack Hughes has the edge.
| Points per game from | Hughes | O'Reilly |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.95 | 0.58 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.77 | 0.57 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.18 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.02 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.38 | 0.20 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.01 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.25 | 0.38 |
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 O'Reilly
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 2G 5A, 30 SOG · O'Reilly 1G 2A, 16 SOG
Hughes's offensive zone 2–2 · neutral 1–2 · Hughes's defensive zone 1–3 (2021-22 to 2025-26)
Hughes blocked 0 of O'Reilly's shots; O'Reilly blocked 2 of Hughes's.
On the ice against each other (Hughes's side)
8:56 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Hughes's side
- Shot attempts
- 9–6
- 60.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.6–0.6
- 52.1%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Hughes | O'Reilly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-26 | NJD 4–2 NSH | 0G 2A 7S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2026-01-29 | NJD 3–2 NSH | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-02-23 | NJD 5–0 NSH | 0G 1A 8S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-11-25 | NJD 5–2 NSH | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-04-07 | NJD 2–3 NSH | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2024-02-13 | NJD 4–2 NSH | 1G 0A 6S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2022-03-06 | NJD 3–2 STL | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2020-03-06 | NJD 4–2 STL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2020-02-18 | NJD 0–3 STL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 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)
2.6proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs PHISchedule edge +9.3 win%
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NYI2.6 pts
Ryan O'Reilly
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs MIN
- Sat, Oct 3 vs DAL2.0 ptsSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Jack Hughes or Ryan O'Reilly 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 O'Reilly's 1.90. Hughes had 77 points in 61 games; O'Reilly had 74 in 81 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 O'Reilly?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Jack Hughes leads in 21 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 O'Reilly done against each other?
- In 9 games against each other in our data, Hughes's team went 7–2. Hughes had 7 points (2 goals) and O'Reilly had 3 (1 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Hughes or O'Reilly?
- Against each other, Hughes has won 4 and O'Reilly 7 of their 11 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 →