Who to start · 2025-26
John Tavares vs Will Smith
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Will Smith projects to 1.94 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to John Tavares's 1.80.
Tavares had 71 points in 82 games; Smith had 59 in 69 games.
This week Tavares has 1 game left; Smith has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Smith for 1.9 ESPN points to Tavares's 1.7.
Will Smith has the better number in 18 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Tavares's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 801, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.027, Hits 74.
Smith's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 2.05, Ascension score 64, Plus/minus +1.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
John Tavares
1.80
fantasy points per game
Will Smith
1.94
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Will Smith has the edge.
| Points per game from | Tavares | Smith |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.67 | 0.90 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.49 | 0.54 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.11 | 0.15 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.24 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.09 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.08 |
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 Smith
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2024-25 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Tavares 3G 2A, 6 SOG · Smith 0G 0A, 9 SOG
On the ice against each other (Tavares's side)
3:46 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Tavares's side
- Shot attempts
- 5–0
- 100.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.0
- 100.0%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Tavares | Smith |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-02 | TOR 1–4 SJS | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-12-11 | TOR 2–3 SJS | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-03-27 | TOR 5–6 SJS | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-03-03 | TOR 2–3 SJS | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 6S |
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 ptsLikely vs Linus Ullmark (.891)
Will Smith
2games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs FLAOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Akira Schmid (.892)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs LAK1.9 ptsOpp allows the most FP to CSchedule edge +3.3 win%Likely vs Anton Forsberg (.910)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start John Tavares or Will Smith in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Will Smith projects to 1.94 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to John Tavares's 1.80. Tavares had 71 points in 82 games; Smith had 59 in 69 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 Will Smith?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Will Smith leads in 18 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 Smith done against each other?
- In 4 games against each other in our data, Tavares's team went 0–4. Tavares had 5 points (3 goals) and Smith had 0 (0 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 →