Who to start · 2025-26
Jackson Blake vs Will Smith
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Will Smith projects to 1.94 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Jackson Blake's 1.45.
Blake had 53 points in 81 games; Smith had 59 in 69 games.
This week Blake has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Smith has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Smith for 1.9 ESPN points to Blake's 1.7.
Will Smith has the better number in 18 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Blake's biggest edges: High-danger chances 57.0%, Corsi 60.4%, Fenwick 59.0%.
Smith's biggest edges: Goals above expected +2.0, On-ice PDO 1033, Hardest shot 90.3.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 5 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Jackson Blake
1.45
fantasy points per game
Will Smith
1.94
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Will Smith has the edge.
| Points per game from | Blake | Smith |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.48 | 0.90 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.40 | 0.54 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.09 | 0.15 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.22 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.01 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.24 | 0.08 |
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: Blake vs Smith
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.
Blake 1G 1A, 8 SOG · Smith 0G 1A, 10 SOG
On the ice against each other (Blake's side)
3:58 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Blake's side
- Shot attempts
- 4–3
- 57.1%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.2
- 52.8%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Blake | Smith |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-07 | CAR 1–4 SJS | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-10-14 | CAR 5–1 SJS | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-03-20 | CAR 3–1 SJS | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
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.
Jackson Blake
3games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs FLAOpp allows 9th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Jacob Markstrom (.883)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs WSHOpp allows 13th-most FP to RWLikely vs Logan Thompson (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ PHIB2B1.7 ptsOpp allows 5th-most FP to RWSchedule edge −12.8 win%Likely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
Will Smith
2games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs FLAOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Akira Schmid (.892)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs LAK1.9 ptsOpp allows the most FP to CSchedule edge +3.3 win%Likely vs Anton Forsberg (.910)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Jackson Blake or Will Smith in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Will Smith projects to 1.94 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Jackson Blake's 1.45. Blake had 53 points in 81 games; Smith had 59 in 69 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, Jackson Blake or Will Smith?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Will Smith 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 Blake and Smith done against each other?
- In 3 games against each other in our data, Blake's team went 2–1. Blake had 2 points (1 goals) and Smith 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 →