Who to start · 2025-26
Leon Draisaitl vs Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Leon Draisaitl projects to 2.96 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins's 1.70.
Draisaitl had 97 points in 65 games; Nugent-Hopkins had 56 in 72 games.
This week Draisaitl has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Nugent-Hopkins has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Draisaitl for 2.0 ESPN points to Nugent-Hopkins's 1.1.
Leon Draisaitl has the better number in 28 of the 35 stats both are ranked on.
Draisaitl's biggest edges: Plus/minus +13, Faceoff win % 56.9%, Draw Equity /100 +0.077.
Nugent-Hopkins's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.26, Blocked shots 31, High-danger chances 54.8%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 2 G, 2 A, 2 PPP, 10 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Leon Draisaitl
2.82
fantasy points per game
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
1.70
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Leon Draisaitl has the edge.
| Points per game from | Draisaitl | Nugent-Hopkins |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.08 | 0.56 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.95 | 0.50 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.32 | 0.20 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.29 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.12 | 0.22 |
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 Nugent-Hopkins
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 blocked 0 of Nugent-Hopkins's shots; Nugent-Hopkins blocked 1 of Draisaitl's.
Goals each scored with the other picking up an assist (as teammates).
On the ice together
26:08 at 5-on-5 over 10 games, 2025-26
- Shot attempts
- 22–33
- 40.0%
- Expected goals
- 1.5–1.3
- 53.8%
- Goals
- 2–1
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 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 6th-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)
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
3games (1 left)
1.1proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VANOpp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.1 ptsOpp allows 6th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Leon Draisaitl or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins 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 Ryan Nugent-Hopkins's 1.70. Draisaitl had 97 points in 65 games; Nugent-Hopkins had 56 in 72 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 Ryan Nugent-Hopkins?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Leon Draisaitl leads in 28 of 35 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
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 →