Who to start · 2025-26
Jack Hughes vs Vladimir Tarasenko
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jack Hughes projects to 2.55 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Vladimir Tarasenko's 1.52.
Hughes had 77 points in 61 games; Tarasenko had 47 in 75 games.
This week Hughes has 1 game left; Tarasenko has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Hughes for 2.3 ESPN points to Tarasenko's 1.2.
Jack Hughes has the better number in 26 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Hughes's biggest edges: Corsi 55.9%, Fenwick 55.3%, Offensive-zone start % 79.3%.
Tarasenko's biggest edges: Goals above expected +4.0, On-ice PDO 1011, Hits 60.
- • 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
Vladimir Tarasenko
1.52
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Jack Hughes has the edge.
| Points per game from | Hughes | Tarasenko |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.89 | 0.61 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.82 | 0.32 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.19 | 0.09 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.37 | 0.20 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.01 | 0.08 |
| 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 Tarasenko
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Hughes 5G 10A, 59 SOG · Tarasenko 4G 4A, 29 SOG
On the ice against each other (Hughes's side)
8:03 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Hughes's side
- Shot attempts
- 13–9
- 59.1%
- Expected goals
- 0.6–0.4
- 62.7%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Hughes | Tarasenko |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-12 | NJD 5–2 MIN | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-10-22 | NJD 4–1 MIN | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-11-29 | NJD 5–4 DET | 1G 1A 2S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2024-10-24 | NJD 3–5 DET | 0G 1A 8S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-12-29 | NJD 6–2 OTT | 1G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-05-01 · PO | NJD 4–0 NYR | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-04-29 · PO | NJD 2–5 NYR | 0G 1A 9S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2023-04-27 · PO | NJD 4–0 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-04-24 · PO | NJD 3–1 NYR | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-04-22 · PO | NJD 2–1 NYR | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-04-20 · PO | NJD 1–5 NYR | 0G 0A 7S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2023-04-18 · PO | NJD 1–5 NYR | 1G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 14 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 Cvs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
Vladimir Tarasenko
2games (1 left)
1.2proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NSHOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs BOS1.2 ptsOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge +13.0 win%Likely vs Michael DiPietro (1.000)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Jack Hughes or Vladimir Tarasenko 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 Vladimir Tarasenko's 1.52. Hughes had 77 points in 61 games; Tarasenko had 47 in 75 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 Vladimir Tarasenko?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Jack Hughes leads in 26 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Hughes and Tarasenko done against each other?
- In 14 games against each other in our data, Hughes's team went 10–4. Hughes had 15 points (5 goals) and Tarasenko had 8 (4 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 →