Who to start · 2025-26
Jake McCabe vs Tomas Hertl
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Tomas Hertl projects to 1.88 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Jake McCabe's 1.75.
McCabe had 25 points in 80 games; Hertl had 58 in 82 games.
This week McCabe has 1 game left; Hertl has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Hertl for 2.0 ESPN points to McCabe's 1.7.
Tomas Hertl has the better number in 21 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
McCabe's biggest edges: Goals above expected +0.7, Top skating speed 22.7, Plus/minus +3.
Hertl's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 47.7%, Ascension score 61, Corsi 56.2%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 9 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Jake McCabe
1.75
fantasy points per game
Tomas Hertl
1.88
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Tomas Hertl has the edge.
| Points per game from | McCabe | Hertl |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.11 | 0.63 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.22 | 0.37 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.17 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.10 | 0.27 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.13 | 0.14 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 1.19 | 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: McCabe vs Hertl
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
McCabe 2G 6A, 19 SOG · Hertl 5G 7A, 35 SOG
McCabe blocked 2 of Hertl's shots; Hertl blocked 0 of McCabe's.
On the ice against each other (McCabe's side)
8:02 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from McCabe's side
- Shot attempts
- 9–10
- 47.4%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.8
- 31.8%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | McCabe | Hertl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-23 | TOR 3–6 VGK | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-01-15 | TOR 5–6 VGK | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2025-03-05 | TOR 2–5 VGK | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2024-11-20 | TOR 3–0 VGK | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-01-09 | TOR 7–1 SJS | 1G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-01-06 | TOR 4–1 SJS | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-02-25 | CHI 4–3 SJS | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-01-01 | CHI 2–5 SJS | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2022-04-23 | CHI 1–4 SJS | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2022-04-14 | CHI 5–4 SJS | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2021-11-28 | CHI 0–2 SJS | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2019-10-22 | BUF 4–3 SJS | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
Latest 12 of 17 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.
Jake McCabe
3games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs MTLOpp allows 7th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
- Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2BOpp allows 16th-most FP to DSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT1.7 ptsvs Linus Ullmark (.891)
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 Jake McCabe or Tomas Hertl in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Tomas Hertl projects to 1.88 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Jake McCabe's 1.75. McCabe had 25 points in 80 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, Jake McCabe or Tomas Hertl?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Tomas Hertl leads in 21 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have McCabe and Hertl done against each other?
- In 17 games against each other in our data, McCabe's team went 8–9. McCabe had 8 points (2 goals) and Hertl had 12 (5 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 →