Who to start · 2025-26
Joel Eriksson Ek vs Nick Schmaltz
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nick Schmaltz projects to 2.05 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Joel Eriksson Ek's 1.70.
Eriksson Ek had 51 points in 70 games; Schmaltz had 74 in 82 games.
This week Eriksson Ek has 1 game left; Schmaltz has 2 left. We project Schmaltz for 4.1 ESPN points to Eriksson Ek's 1.8.
Nick Schmaltz has the better number in 26 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Eriksson Ek's biggest edges: Hits 106, Transition attempts /60 1.35, On-ice PDO 1037.
Schmaltz's biggest edges: Goals above expected +5.3, Offensive-zone start % 65.4%, Forecheck xG /60 0.29.
Head to head on the dot, Eriksson Ek leads Schmaltz 31–25.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Joel Eriksson Ek
1.70
fantasy points per game
Nick Schmaltz
2.05
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nick Schmaltz has the edge.
| Points per game from | Eriksson Ek | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.51 | 0.88 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.43 | 0.47 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.11 | 0.11 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.28 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.15 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.23 | 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: Eriksson Ek vs Schmaltz
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.
Eriksson Ek 4G 10A, 51 SOG · Schmaltz 3G 13A, 67 SOG
Eriksson Ek's offensive zone 8–3 · neutral 7–11 · Eriksson Ek's defensive zone 16–11 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
Eriksson Ek blocked 2 of Schmaltz's shots; Schmaltz blocked 1 of Eriksson Ek's.
On the ice against each other (Eriksson Ek's side)
9:44 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Eriksson Ek's side
- Shot attempts
- 8–7
- 53.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.2
- 51.7%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Eriksson Ek | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-10 | MIN 5–0 UTA | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-02-27 | MIN 2–5 UTA | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2025-10-25 | MIN 2–6 UTA | 0G 0A 5S | 2G 0A 6S |
| 2025-01-23 | MIN 0–4 UTA | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-03-12 | MIN 4–1 ARI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-03-07 | MIN 5–2 ARI | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-02-14 | MIN 3–1 ARI | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-01-13 | MIN 0–6 ARI | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2023-02-06 | MIN 2–3 ARI | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2023-01-14 | MIN 2–1 ARI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-11-27 | MIN 4–3 ARI | 0G 2A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2022-04-26 | MIN 3–5 ARI | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 2A 5S |
Latest 12 of 29 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.
Joel Eriksson Ek
2games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NSH
- Sat, Oct 3 vs BOS1.8 pts
Nick Schmaltz
3games (2 left)
4.1proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs CHI
- Sat, Oct 3 @ CBJ2.0 pts
- Sun, Oct 4 @ NYRB2B2.0 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Joel Eriksson Ek or Nick Schmaltz in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nick Schmaltz projects to 2.05 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Joel Eriksson Ek's 1.70. Eriksson Ek had 51 points in 70 games; Schmaltz had 74 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, Joel Eriksson Ek or Nick Schmaltz?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nick Schmaltz leads in 26 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Eriksson Ek and Schmaltz done against each other?
- In 29 games against each other in our data, Eriksson Ek's team went 18–11. Eriksson Ek had 14 points (4 goals) and Schmaltz had 16 (3 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Eriksson Ek or Schmaltz?
- Against each other, Eriksson Ek has won 31 and Schmaltz 25 of their 56 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 →