Who to start · 2025-26
Josh Manson 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 Josh Manson's 1.48.
Manson had 31 points in 79 games; Schmaltz had 74 in 82 games.
This week Manson has 1 game left; Schmaltz has 2 left. We project Schmaltz for 3.8 ESPN points to Manson's 1.4.
Nick Schmaltz has the better number in 20 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Manson's biggest edges: Hits 174, Transition attempts /60 0.59, Penalty minutes 91.
Schmaltz's biggest edges: Goals above expected +4.2, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.26, Offensive-zone start % 65.4%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Josh Manson
1.48
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 | Manson | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.12 | 0.88 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.37 | 0.47 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.11 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.16 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.21 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.62 | 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: Manson 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.
Manson 1G 3A, 25 SOG · Schmaltz 8G 11A, 41 SOG
Manson blocked 4 of Schmaltz's shots; Schmaltz blocked 1 of Manson's.
On the ice against each other (Manson's side)
16:54 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Manson's side
- Shot attempts
- 12–20
- 37.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–1.0
- 32.8%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Manson | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-25 | COL 4–2 UTA | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-12-23 | COL 1–0 UTA | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-10-21 | COL 3–4 UTA | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2025-10-09 | COL 2–1 UTA | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2024-12-27 | COL 4–1 UTA | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-10-24 | COL 5–1 UTA | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-02-18 | COL 4–3 ARI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-12-27 | COL 4–5 ARI | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-12-23 | COL 4–1 ARI | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-11-30 | COL 3–4 ARI | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2021-12-17 | ANA 5–6 ARI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2021-04-04 | ANA 2–3 ARI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
Latest 12 of 21 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.
Josh Manson
2games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows 3rd-most FP to DLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL1.4 ptsSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
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 Josh Manson 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 Josh Manson's 1.48. Manson had 31 points in 79 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, Josh Manson or Nick Schmaltz?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nick Schmaltz leads in 20 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Manson and Schmaltz done against each other?
- In 21 games against each other in our data, Manson's team went 11–10. Manson had 4 points (1 goals) and Schmaltz had 19 (8 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 →