Who to start · 2025-26
Kyle Connor vs Nick Schmaltz
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Kyle Connor projects to 2.43 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Nick Schmaltz's 2.05.
Connor had 92 points in 82 games; Schmaltz had 74 in 82 games.
This week Connor has 1 game left; Schmaltz has 2 left. We project Schmaltz for 3.8 ESPN points to Connor's 2.0.
Nick Schmaltz has the better number in 19 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Connor's biggest edges: Ascension score 57, Hits 36, On-ice PDO 1017.
Schmaltz's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 448, Blocked shots 52, Top skating speed 23.2.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 9 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Kyle Connor
2.43
fantasy points per game
Nick Schmaltz
2.05
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Kyle Connor has the edge.
| Points per game from | Connor | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.02 | 0.88 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.67 | 0.47 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.14 | 0.11 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.37 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.17 | 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: Connor 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.
Connor 12G 5A, 72 SOG · Schmaltz 9G 14A, 46 SOG
Connor blocked 0 of Schmaltz's shots; Schmaltz blocked 1 of Connor's.
On the ice against each other (Connor's side)
8:50 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Connor's side
- Shot attempts
- 3–10
- 23.1%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.6
- 35.2%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Connor | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-14 | WPG 3–5 UTA | 1G 1A 6S | 2G 0A 8S |
| 2025-12-21 | WPG 3–4 UTA | 2G 0A 6S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-10-26 | WPG 2–3 UTA | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-04-05 | WPG 1–4 UTA | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-01-24 | WPG 5–2 UTA | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2025-01-20 | WPG 2–5 UTA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2024-11-05 | WPG 3–0 UTA | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-02-25 | WPG 4–3 ARI | 2G 0A 3S | 2G 0A 5S |
| 2023-11-18 | WPG 5–2 ARI | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-11-04 | WPG 5–3 ARI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-03-21 | WPG 2–1 ARI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2023-01-15 | WPG 2–1 ARI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 3S |
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.
Kyle Connor
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs BOSOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ DET2.0 ptsLikely vs John Gibson (.901)
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 Kyle Connor or Nick Schmaltz in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Kyle Connor projects to 2.43 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Nick Schmaltz's 2.05. Connor had 92 points in 82 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, Kyle Connor or Nick Schmaltz?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nick Schmaltz leads in 19 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Connor and Schmaltz done against each other?
- In 22 games against each other in our data, Connor's team went 13–9. Connor had 17 points (12 goals) and Schmaltz had 23 (9 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 →