Who to start · 2025-26
Mark Stone vs Will Smith
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mark Stone projects to 2.47 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Will Smith's 1.94.
Stone had 73 points in 60 games; Smith had 59 in 69 games.
This week Stone has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Smith has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Stone for 2.2 ESPN points to Smith's 1.9.
Mark Stone has the better number in 26 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Stone's biggest edges: High-danger chances 60.8%, Blocked shots 47, Expected goals 61.7%.
Smith's biggest edges: 20+ mph bursts 95, Ascension score 64, Penalty minutes 16.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mark Stone
2.47
fantasy points per game
Will Smith
1.94
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mark Stone has the edge.
| Points per game from | Stone | Smith |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.94 | 0.90 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.66 | 0.54 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.21 | 0.15 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.20 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.38 | 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: Stone 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.
Stone 3G 7A, 14 SOG · Smith 3G 1A, 12 SOG
Stone blocked 2 of Smith's shots; Smith blocked 0 of Stone's.
On the ice against each other (Stone's side)
10:55 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Stone's side
- Shot attempts
- 10–10
- 50.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.3
- 61.4%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Stone | Smith |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-29 | VGK 4–3 SJS | 0G 1A 0S | 2G 0A 4S |
| 2025-10-09 | VGK 4–3 SJS | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-01-07 | VGK 4–2 SJS | 1G 1A 6S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-12-27 | VGK 6–3 SJS | 1G 1A 4S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2024-10-26 | VGK 7–3 SJS | 1G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 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.
Mark Stone
3games (1 left)
2.2proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs CHIOpp allows 4th-most FP to RWLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs ANAOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ VAN2.2 ptsOpp allows 9th-most FP to RWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
Will Smith
2games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs FLAOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Akira Schmid (.892)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs LAK1.9 ptsOpp allows the most FP to CSchedule edge +3.3 win%Likely vs Anton Forsberg (.910)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mark Stone or Will Smith in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mark Stone projects to 2.47 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Will Smith's 1.94. Stone had 73 points in 60 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, Mark Stone or Will Smith?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mark Stone 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 Stone and Smith done against each other?
- In 5 games against each other in our data, Stone's team went 5–0. Stone had 10 points (3 goals) and Smith had 4 (3 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 →