Who to start · 2025-26
Lucas Raymond vs Nick Schmaltz
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nick Schmaltz projects to 2.05 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Lucas Raymond's 1.78.
Raymond had 76 points in 80 games; Schmaltz had 74 in 82 games.
This week Raymond has 1 game left; Schmaltz has 2 left. We project Schmaltz for 3.1 ESPN points to Raymond's 2.0.
Nick Schmaltz has the better number in 26 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Raymond's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.93, Hits 43, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.60.
Schmaltz's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.052, Faceoffs won 448, Scoring chances 55.7%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Lucas Raymond
1.78
fantasy points per game
Nick Schmaltz
2.05
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nick Schmaltz has the edge.
| Points per game from | Raymond | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.59 | 0.88 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.60 | 0.47 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.16 | 0.11 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.22 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.06 | 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: Raymond vs Schmaltz
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Raymond 1G 2A, 20 SOG · Schmaltz 5G 7A, 20 SOG
Raymond blocked 0 of Schmaltz's shots; Schmaltz blocked 1 of Raymond's.
On the ice against each other (Raymond's side)
16:26 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Raymond's side
- Shot attempts
- 12–17
- 41.4%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–1.0
- 34.2%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Raymond | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-04 | DET 1–4 UTA | 0G 0A 5S | 1G 1A 6S |
| 2025-12-17 | DET 1–4 UTA | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-03-24 | DET 5–1 UTA | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-03-06 | DET 2–4 UTA | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2024-03-14 | DET 1–4 ARI | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-03-08 | DET 0–4 ARI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-01-17 | DET 3–4 ARI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-11-25 | DET 4–3 ARI | 0G 2A 3S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2022-03-08 | DET 2–9 ARI | 0G 0A 1S | 2G 2A 2S |
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.
Lucas Raymond
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs NYROpp allows 7th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Dylan Garand (.948)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs WPG2.0 ptsOpp allows 14th-most FP to LWLikely vs Stuart Skinner (.888)
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 Lucas Raymond or Nick Schmaltz in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nick Schmaltz projects to 2.05 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Lucas Raymond's 1.78. Raymond had 76 points in 80 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, Lucas Raymond or Nick Schmaltz?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nick Schmaltz leads in 26 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Raymond and Schmaltz done against each other?
- In 9 games against each other in our data, Raymond's team went 2–7. Raymond had 3 points (1 goals) and Schmaltz had 12 (5 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 →