Who to start · 2025-26
Jack Hughes vs Tage Thompson
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jack Hughes projects to 2.55 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Tage Thompson's 2.26.
Hughes had 77 points in 61 games; Thompson had 81 in 81 games.
This week Hughes has 1 game left; Thompson has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Thompson for 2.6 ESPN points to Hughes's 2.3.
Jack Hughes has the better number in 19 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Hughes's biggest edges: Scoring chances 56.0%, Fenwick 55.3%, Corsi 55.9%.
Thompson's biggest edges: Hardest shot 97.9, Hits 85, On-ice PDO 1014.
Head to head on the dot, Hughes leads Thompson 12–3.
- • 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
Tage Thompson
2.26
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Jack Hughes has the edge.
| Points per game from | Hughes | Thompson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.95 | 0.93 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.77 | 0.47 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.18 | 0.14 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.38 | 0.34 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.01 | 0.10 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.25 | 0.28 |
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 Thompson
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2020-21 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Hughes 9G 9A, 56 SOG · Thompson 12G 5A, 48 SOG
Hughes's offensive zone 6–1 · neutral 4–1 · Hughes's defensive zone 2–1 (2021-22 to 2025-26)
Hughes blocked 1 of Thompson's shots; Thompson blocked 0 of Hughes's.
On the ice against each other (Hughes's side)
9:08 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Hughes's side
- Shot attempts
- 6–14
- 30.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.5
- 23.0%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Hughes | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-25 | NJD 1–2 BUF | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2025-12-21 | NJD 1–3 BUF | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-02-02 | NJD 3–4 BUF | 1G 0A 3S | 1G 2A 3S |
| 2024-10-05 | NJD 3–1 BUF | 0G 2A 6S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-10-04 | NJD 4–1 BUF | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-03-29 | NJD 2–5 BUF | 0G 0A 5S | 4G 0A 6S |
| 2023-10-27 | NJD 5–4 BUF | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2023-04-11 | NJD 6–2 BUF | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-03-24 | NJD 4–5 BUF | 2G 1A 4S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2022-11-25 | NJD 3–1 BUF | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2021-12-29 | NJD 4–3 BUF | 1G 2A 6S | 2G 0A 3S |
| 2021-02-25 | NJD 4–3 BUF | 0G 0A 8S | 0G 0A 3S |
Latest 12 of 16 meetings.
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)
Tage Thompson
2games (1 left)
2.6proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ CBJOpp allows 16th-most FP to CLikely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CHI2.6 ptsOpp allows 8th-most FP to CLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Jack Hughes or Tage Thompson 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 Tage Thompson's 2.26. Hughes had 77 points in 61 games; Thompson had 81 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 Tage Thompson?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Jack Hughes leads in 19 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 Thompson done against each other?
- In 16 games against each other in our data, Hughes's team went 9–7. Hughes had 18 points (9 goals) and Thompson had 17 (12 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Hughes or Thompson?
- Against each other, Hughes has won 12 and Thompson 3 of their 15 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 →