Who to start · 2025-26
Kirill Kaprizov vs Nick Schmaltz
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Kirill Kaprizov projects to 2.50 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Nick Schmaltz's 2.05.
Kaprizov had 89 points in 78 games; Schmaltz had 74 in 82 games.
This week Kaprizov has 1 game left; Schmaltz has 2 left. We project Schmaltz for 3.1 ESPN points to Kaprizov's 1.9.
Nick Schmaltz has the better number in 18 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Kaprizov's biggest edges: Ascension score 54, Hits 52, Transition attempts /60 1.30.
Schmaltz's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.052, Faceoffs won 448, Luck Meter +44.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Kirill Kaprizov
2.50
fantasy points per game
Nick Schmaltz
2.05
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Kirill Kaprizov has the edge.
| Points per game from | Kaprizov | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.21 | 0.88 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.53 | 0.47 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.19 | 0.11 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.34 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.16 | 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: Kaprizov vs Schmaltz
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2020-21 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Kaprizov 13G 15A, 86 SOG · Schmaltz 3G 9A, 52 SOG
Kaprizov's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 1–0 · Kaprizov's defensive zone 0–0 (2020-21)
Kaprizov blocked 1 of Schmaltz's shots; Schmaltz blocked 0 of Kaprizov's.
On the ice against each other (Kaprizov's side)
12:33 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Kaprizov's side
- Shot attempts
- 10–21
- 32.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–1.1
- 32.8%
- Goals
- 0–3
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Kaprizov | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-10 | MIN 5–0 UTA | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-02-27 | MIN 2–5 UTA | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2025-10-25 | MIN 2–6 UTA | 0G 1A 3S | 2G 0A 6S |
| 2025-01-23 | MIN 0–4 UTA | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-12-20 | MIN 1–2 UTA | 0G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-12-10 | MIN 5–4 UTA | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-03-12 | MIN 4–1 ARI | 2G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-03-07 | MIN 5–2 ARI | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-02-14 | MIN 3–1 ARI | 0G 1A 8S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-01-13 | MIN 0–6 ARI | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2023-02-06 | MIN 2–3 ARI | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2023-01-14 | MIN 2–1 ARI | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 22 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.
Kirill Kaprizov
2games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NSHOpp allows 12th-most FP to LWLikely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs BOS1.9 ptsOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge +12.8 win%Likely vs Michael DiPietro (1.000)
Nick Schmaltz
3games (2 left)
3.1proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs CHIOpp allows 8th-most FP to CLikely vs Arvid Soderblom (.880)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ CBJ1.7 ptsOpp allows 16th-most FP to CSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ NYRB2B1.4 ptsOpp allows 15th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Kirill Kaprizov or Nick Schmaltz in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Kirill Kaprizov projects to 2.50 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Nick Schmaltz's 2.05. Kaprizov had 89 points in 78 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, Kirill Kaprizov or Nick Schmaltz?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nick Schmaltz 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 Kaprizov and Schmaltz done against each other?
- In 22 games against each other in our data, Kaprizov's team went 14–8. Kaprizov had 28 points (13 goals) and Schmaltz had 12 (3 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Kaprizov or Schmaltz?
- Against each other, Kaprizov has won 1 and Schmaltz 0 of their 1 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 →