Who to start · 2025-26
Jack Hughes vs Sam Malinski
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jack Hughes projects to 2.55 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Malinski's 1.44.
Hughes had 77 points in 61 games; Malinski had 40 in 82 games.
This week Hughes has 1 game left; Malinski has 1 left. We project Hughes for 2.4 ESPN points to Malinski's 1.4.
Jack Hughes has the better number in 18 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Hughes's biggest edges: Ice-time share 35.1%, Ice time per game 21:19, Ascension score 51.
Malinski's biggest edges: On-ice PDO 1035, Hardest shot 96.8, Hits 46.
- • 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, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Jack Hughes
2.55
fantasy points per game
Sam Malinski
1.44
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Jack Hughes has the edge.
| Points per game from | Hughes | Malinski |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.95 | 0.18 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.77 | 0.37 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.18 | 0.01 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.38 | 0.20 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.01 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.25 | 0.64 |
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 Malinski
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2024-25 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Hughes 4G 1A, 12 SOG · Malinski 0G 1A, 8 SOG
Hughes blocked 0 of Malinski's shots; Malinski blocked 1 of Hughes's.
On the ice against each other (Hughes's side)
5:41 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Hughes's side
- Shot attempts
- 4–4
- 50.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.2
- 24.8%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Hughes | Malinski |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-10-28 | NJD 4–8 COL | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-10-26 | NJD 4–3 COL | 2G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-02-26 | NJD 1–5 COL | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-12-08 | NJD 0–4 COL | 0G 0A 6S | 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)
2.4proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs PHIOpp allows 5th-most FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Joseph Woll (.899)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NYI2.4 ptsOpp allows 13th-most FP to Cvs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
Sam Malinski
2games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows 3rd-most FP to DLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL1.4 ptsSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Jack Hughes or Sam Malinski 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 Sam Malinski's 1.44. Hughes had 77 points in 61 games; Malinski had 40 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 Sam Malinski?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Jack Hughes leads in 18 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 Malinski done against each other?
- In 4 games against each other in our data, Hughes's team went 1–3. Hughes had 5 points (4 goals) and Malinski had 1 (0 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 →