Who to start · 2025-26
John Tavares vs Robert Thomas
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Robert Thomas projects to 1.89 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to John Tavares's 1.80.
Tavares had 71 points in 82 games; Thomas had 64 in 64 games.
This week Tavares has 1 game left; Thomas has 1 left. We project Thomas for 2.0 ESPN points to Tavares's 1.8.
Robert Thomas has the better number in 19 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Tavares's biggest edges: Hits 74, Hardest shot 88.5, Shots on goal 192.
Thomas's biggest edges: Plus/minus +22, Scoring chances 56.0%, Goals above expected +5.4.
Head to head on the dot, Tavares leads Thomas 23–21.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
John Tavares
1.80
fantasy points per game
Robert Thomas
1.89
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Robert Thomas has the edge.
| Points per game from | Tavares | Thomas |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.67 | 0.73 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.49 | 0.57 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.11 | 0.10 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.02 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.24 | 0.15 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.09 | 0.01 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.29 |
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 Thomas
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2018-19 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Tavares 2G 2A, 26 SOG · Thomas 1G 10A, 14 SOG
Tavares's offensive zone 13–8 · neutral 5–5 · Tavares's defensive zone 5–8 (2021-22 to 2025-26)
Tavares blocked 0 of Thomas's shots; Thomas blocked 1 of Tavares's.
On the ice against each other (Tavares's side)
15:03 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Tavares's side
- Shot attempts
- 9–18
- 33.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.8
- 36.8%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Tavares | Thomas |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-28 | TOR 1–5 STL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2025-11-18 | TOR 3–2 STL | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-02-19 | TOR 4–2 STL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2023-01-03 | TOR 5–6 STL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-12-27 | TOR 5–4 STL | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2022-01-15 | TOR 6–5 STL | 1G 0A 6S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2022-02-19 | TOR 3–6 STL | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2019-12-07 | TOR 5–2 STL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2019-02-19 | TOR 2–3 STL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
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)
1.8proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Tue, Sep 29 vs MTL
- Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2B
- Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT1.8 pts
Robert Thomas
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DAL
- Sat, Oct 3 @ COLB2B2.0 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start John Tavares or Robert Thomas in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Robert Thomas projects to 1.89 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to John Tavares's 1.80. Tavares had 71 points in 82 games; Thomas had 64 in 64 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 Robert Thomas?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Robert Thomas leads in 19 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 Thomas done against each other?
- In 9 games against each other in our data, Tavares's team went 5–4. Tavares had 4 points (2 goals) and Thomas had 11 (1 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Tavares or Thomas?
- Against each other, Tavares has won 23 and Thomas 21 of their 44 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 →