Who to start · 2025-26
John Tavares vs Quinn Hughes
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Quinn Hughes projects to 2.16 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to John Tavares's 1.80.
Tavares had 71 points in 82 games; Hughes had 76 in 74 games.
This week Tavares has 1 game left; Hughes has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Tavares for 1.7 ESPN points to Hughes's 1.7.
Quinn Hughes has the better number in 22 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Tavares's biggest edges: Hits 74, Luck Meter +12, Forecheck xG /60 0.34.
Hughes's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 0.60, Scoring chances 53.6%, Ascension score 57.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
John Tavares
1.80
fantasy points per game
Quinn Hughes
2.16
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Quinn Hughes has the edge.
| Points per game from | Tavares | Hughes |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.67 | 0.18 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.49 | 0.94 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.11 | 0.22 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.24 | 0.27 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.09 | 0.01 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.55 |
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 Hughes
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2019-20 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Tavares 9G 11A, 62 SOG · Hughes 2G 18A, 28 SOG
Tavares blocked 3 of Hughes's shots; Hughes blocked 3 of Tavares's.
On the ice against each other (Tavares's side)
13:30 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Tavares's side
- Shot attempts
- 13–24
- 35.1%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–1.6
- 20.1%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Tavares | Hughes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-15 | TOR 4–2 MIN | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-01-19 | TOR 3–6 MIN | 1G 0A 6S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2025-01-11 | TOR 0–3 VAN | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 0S |
| 2024-01-20 | TOR 4–6 VAN | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 3A 1S |
| 2023-11-11 | TOR 5–2 VAN | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2023-03-04 | TOR 1–4 VAN | 1G 0A 8S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2022-11-12 | TOR 3–2 VAN | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-03-05 | TOR 4–6 VAN | 1G 1A 6S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2021-05-01 | TOR 5–1 VAN | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2021-04-29 | TOR 4–1 VAN | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2021-04-20 | TOR 3–6 VAN | 2G 0A 4S | 1G 2A 3S |
| 2021-04-18 | TOR 2–3 VAN | 0G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
Latest 12 of 19 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 14th-most FP to CLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
- Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2BOpp allows 15th-most FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT1.7 ptsvs Linus Ullmark (.891)
Quinn Hughes
2games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NSHOpp allows 14th-most FP to DLikely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs BOS1.7 ptsOpp allows 8th-fewest FP to DSchedule edge +12.8 win%Likely vs Michael DiPietro (1.000)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start John Tavares or Quinn Hughes in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Quinn Hughes projects to 2.16 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to John Tavares's 1.80. Tavares had 71 points in 82 games; Hughes had 76 in 74 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 Quinn Hughes?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Quinn Hughes leads in 22 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Tavares and Hughes done against each other?
- In 19 games against each other in our data, Tavares's team went 10–9. Tavares had 20 points (9 goals) and Hughes had 20 (2 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 →