Who to start · 2025-26
Jack Hughes vs Tomas Hertl
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jack Hughes projects to 2.55 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Tomas Hertl's 1.88.
Hughes had 77 points in 61 games; Hertl had 58 in 82 games.
This week Hughes has 1 game left; Hertl has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Hughes for 2.3 ESPN points to Hertl's 2.0.
Tomas Hertl has the better number in 19 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Hughes's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.33, Plus/minus 0, Luck Meter −2.
Hertl's biggest edges: Draw Equity /100 +0.096, Faceoff win % 57.8%, Hits 114.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 9 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Jack Hughes
2.55
fantasy points per game
Tomas Hertl
1.88
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Jack Hughes has the edge.
| Points per game from | Hughes | Hertl |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.95 | 0.63 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.77 | 0.37 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.18 | 0.17 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.38 | 0.27 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.01 | 0.14 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.25 | 0.30 |
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 Hertl
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2024-25: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Hughes 2G 0A, 22 SOG · Hertl 0G 2A, 12 SOG
Hughes's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 0–1 · Hughes's defensive zone 0–1 (2022-23 to 2023-24)
Hughes blocked 1 of Hertl's shots; Hertl blocked 0 of Hughes's.
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Hughes | Hertl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-03-02 | NJD 0–2 VGK | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-02-06 | NJD 1–3 VGK | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-12-01 | NJD 3–6 SJS | 1G 0A 6S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-01-16 | NJD 4–3 SJS | 1G 0A 7S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2022-10-22 | NJD 2–1 SJS | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2021-11-30 | NJD 2–5 SJS | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
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)
Tomas Hertl
3games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs CHIOpp allows 8th-most FP to CLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs ANAOpp allows 9th-most FP to CLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ VAN2.0 ptsOpp allows 6th-most FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Jack Hughes or Tomas Hertl 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 Tomas Hertl's 1.88. Hughes had 77 points in 61 games; Hertl had 58 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 Tomas Hertl?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Tomas Hertl 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 Hertl done against each other?
- In 6 games against each other in our data, Hughes's team went 2–4. Hughes had 2 points (2 goals) and Hertl had 2 (0 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Hughes or Hertl?
- Against each other, Hughes has won 0 and Hertl 2 of their 2 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 →