Who to start · 2025-26
Leon Draisaitl vs Nick Schmaltz
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Leon Draisaitl projects to 2.96 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Nick Schmaltz's 2.05.
Draisaitl had 97 points in 65 games; Schmaltz had 74 in 82 games.
This week Draisaitl has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Schmaltz has 2 left. We project Schmaltz for 3.8 ESPN points to Draisaitl's 2.0.
Nick Schmaltz has the better number in 20 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Draisaitl's biggest edges: Faceoff win % 56.9%, Draw Equity /100 +0.077, Ascension score 69.
Schmaltz's biggest edges: Blocked shots 52, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.052, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.26.
Head to head on the dot, Draisaitl leads Schmaltz 25–4.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 2 G, 2 A, 2 PPP, 10 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Leon Draisaitl
2.96
fantasy points per game
Nick Schmaltz
2.05
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Leon Draisaitl has the edge.
| Points per game from | Draisaitl | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.19 | 0.88 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.96 | 0.47 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.34 | 0.11 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.31 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.10 | 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: Draisaitl 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.
Draisaitl 8G 16A, 47 SOG · Schmaltz 1G 12A, 37 SOG
Draisaitl's offensive zone 11–3 · neutral 6–1 · Draisaitl's defensive zone 8–0 (2017-18 to 2023-24)
Draisaitl blocked 1 of Schmaltz's shots; Schmaltz blocked 0 of Draisaitl's.
On the ice against each other (Draisaitl's side)
5:13 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Draisaitl's side
- Shot attempts
- 4–3
- 57.1%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.0
- 100.0%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Draisaitl | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-10-28 | EDM 6–3 UTA | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-03-18 | EDM 7–1 UTA | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-12-31 | EDM 4–1 UTA | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-11-29 | EDM 4–3 UTA | 1G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2024-04-17 | EDM 2–5 ARI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-04-12 | EDM 2–3 ARI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2024-02-19 | EDM 6–3 ARI | 1G 2A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2023-03-27 | EDM 5–4 ARI | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 2A 5S |
| 2023-03-22 | EDM 4–3 ARI | 0G 4A 3S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2022-12-07 | EDM 8–2 ARI | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-03-28 | EDM 6–1 ARI | 1G 1A 6S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2021-10-21 | EDM 5–1 ARI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
Latest 12 of 19 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.
Leon Draisaitl
3games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VANOpp allows 4th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 4th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA2.0 ptsOpp allows 6th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)
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 Leon Draisaitl or Nick Schmaltz in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Leon Draisaitl projects to 2.96 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Nick Schmaltz's 2.05. Draisaitl had 97 points in 65 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, Leon Draisaitl or Nick Schmaltz?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nick Schmaltz leads in 20 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Draisaitl and Schmaltz done against each other?
- In 19 games against each other in our data, Draisaitl's team went 13–6. Draisaitl had 24 points (8 goals) and Schmaltz had 13 (1 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Draisaitl or Schmaltz?
- Against each other, Draisaitl has won 25 and Schmaltz 4 of their 29 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 →