Who to start · 2025-26
John Tavares 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 John Tavares's 1.80.
Tavares had 71 points in 82 games; Schmaltz had 74 in 82 games.
This week Tavares has 1 game left; Schmaltz has 2 left. We project Schmaltz for 3.8 ESPN points to Tavares's 1.7.
Nick Schmaltz has the better number in 28 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Tavares's biggest edges: Faceoff win % 57.5%, Draw Equity /100 +0.071, Hits 74.
Schmaltz's biggest edges: Plus/minus +17, Goals above expected +4.2, Scoring chances 55.7%.
Head to head on the dot, Tavares leads Schmaltz 19–11.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
John Tavares
1.80
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 | Tavares | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.67 | 0.88 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.49 | 0.47 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.11 | 0.11 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.24 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.09 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 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: Tavares 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.
Tavares 7G 5A, 48 SOG · Schmaltz 1G 5A, 10 SOG
Tavares's offensive zone 6–4 · neutral 6–5 · Tavares's defensive zone 7–2 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
Tavares blocked 0 of Schmaltz's shots; Schmaltz blocked 2 of Tavares's.
On the ice against each other (Tavares's side)
5:30 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Tavares's side
- Shot attempts
- 3–4
- 42.9%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.0
- 71.2%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Tavares | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-13 | TOR 1–6 UTA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-11-05 | TOR 5–3 UTA | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-03-10 | TOR 4–3 UTA | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2024-11-24 | TOR 3–2 UTA | 0G 1A 8S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-02-29 | TOR 4–2 ARI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-02-21 | TOR 6–3 ARI | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-12-29 | TOR 3–6 ARI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-03-10 | TOR 4–5 ARI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2022-01-12 | TOR 1–2 ARI | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2020-02-11 | TOR 3–2 ARI | 0G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2019-11-21 | TOR 3–1 ARI | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2018-10-07 | TOR 7–6 CHI | 3G 0A 7S | 0G 2A 0S |
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.
John Tavares
3games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs MTLOpp allows 12th-most FP to CLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
- Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2BOpp allows 13th-most FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT1.7 ptsLikely vs Linus Ullmark (.891)
Nick Schmaltz
3games (2 left)
3.8proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs CHIOpp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Arvid Soderblom (.880)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ CBJ1.8 ptsOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ NYRB2B2.0 ptsOpp allows 10th-most FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start John Tavares 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 John Tavares's 1.80. Tavares had 71 points in 82 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, John Tavares or Nick Schmaltz?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nick Schmaltz leads in 28 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Tavares and Schmaltz done against each other?
- In 14 games against each other in our data, Tavares's team went 9–5. Tavares had 12 points (7 goals) and Schmaltz had 6 (1 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Tavares or Schmaltz?
- Against each other, Tavares has won 19 and Schmaltz 11 of their 30 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 →