Who to start · 2025-26
Kirill Marchenko 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 Kirill Marchenko's 1.92.
Marchenko had 67 points in 76 games; Smith had 59 in 69 games.
This week Marchenko has 1 game left; Smith has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Smith for 1.9 ESPN points to Marchenko's 1.8.
Kirill Marchenko has the better number in 22 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Marchenko's biggest edges: Blocked shots 40, Top skating speed 23.4, Hits 61.
Smith's biggest edges: Goals above expected +2.1, Faceoffs won 15, Transition attempts /60 2.05.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 7 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Kirill Marchenko
1.92
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 | Marchenko | Smith |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.63 | 0.90 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.52 | 0.54 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.13 | 0.15 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.29 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.11 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.23 | 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: Marchenko 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.
Marchenko 1G 1A, 9 SOG · Smith 0G 3A, 5 SOG
On the ice against each other (Marchenko's side)
2:44 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Marchenko's side
- Shot attempts
- 2–2
- 50.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.2
- 58.8%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Marchenko | Smith |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-28 | CBJ 2–3 SJS | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2025-01-16 | CBJ 4–1 SJS | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-11-05 | CBJ 1–2 SJS | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
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 Marchenko
3games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs MTLOpp allows 9th-most FP to RWLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
- Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2BOpp allows 10th-most FP to RWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT1.8 ptsLikely vs Linus Ullmark (.891)
Will Smith
2games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs FLAOpp allows 9th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Akira Schmid (.892)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs LAK1.9 ptsOpp allows the most FP to CLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Kirill Marchenko 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 Kirill Marchenko's 1.92. Marchenko had 67 points in 76 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, Kirill Marchenko or Will Smith?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Kirill Marchenko 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 Marchenko and Smith done against each other?
- In 3 games against each other in our data, Marchenko's team went 1–2. Marchenko had 2 points (1 goals) and Smith had 3 (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 →