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Who to start · 2025-26

Matthew Schaefer vs Noah Dobson

Matthew SchaeferMatthew SchaeferIslanders · DefencevsNoah DobsonNoah DobsonCanadiens · Defence

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Noah Dobson projects to 2.17 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Matthew Schaefer's 2.02.

Schaefer had 59 points in 82 games; Dobson had 47 in 80 games.

This week Schaefer has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Dobson has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Schaefer for 2.4 ESPN points to Dobson's 1.6.

Matthew Schaefer has the better number in 27 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

Schaefer's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 −0.058, High-danger chances 49.1%, Scoring chances 49.8%.

Dobson's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.38, Blocked shots 188, Shorthanded points 1.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Matthew Schaefer

2.02

fantasy points per game

Noah Dobson

2.17

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Noah Dobson has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromSchaeferDobson
Goals (+2)0.530.28
Assists (+1)0.410.41
Power-play points (+0.5)0.100.04
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.000.01
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.270.19
Hits (+0.1)0.050.07
Blocks (+0.5)0.671.16

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: Schaefer vs Dobson

Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2025-26 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.

SchaeferDobson
1Team record in 2 meetings1
3Points in those games2

Schaefer 3G 0A, 6 SOG · Dobson 2G 0A, 6 SOG

1Hits on each other0
1Shots blocked by the other2

Schaefer blocked 1 of Dobson's shots; Dobson blocked 2 of Schaefer's.

On the ice against each other (Schaefer's side)

12:32 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Schaefer's side

Shot attempts
19–11
63.3%
Expected goals
1.0–0.4
70.8%
Goals
1–2

Games against each other

Games between Matthew Schaefer and Noah Dobson
DateScoreSchaeferDobson
2026-03-21NYI 3–7 MTL1G 0A 3S0G 0A 3S
2026-02-26NYI 4–3 MTL2G 0A 3S2G 0A 3S

Every stat, side by side

Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.

SchaeferDobson

Fantasy box score

Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

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.

Matthew Schaefer

2games (1 left)

2.4proj. ESPN pts

  • Wed, Sep 30 @ TOR
    Opp allows 12th-fewest FP to DSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Anthony Stolarz (.893)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs NJD2.4 pts
    Opp allows 6th-most FP to DLikely vs Jake Allen (.904)

Noah Dobson

2games (1 left)

1.6proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 @ TOR
    Opp allows 12th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
  • Sat, Oct 3 @ PIT1.6 pts
    Opp allows the fewest FP to DLikely vs Arturs Silovs (.888)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Matthew Schaefer or Noah Dobson in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Noah Dobson projects to 2.17 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Matthew Schaefer's 2.02. Schaefer had 59 points in 82 games; Dobson had 47 in 80 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, Matthew Schaefer or Noah Dobson?
On 2025-26 numbers, Matthew Schaefer leads in 27 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
How have Schaefer and Dobson done against each other?
In 2 games against each other in our data, Schaefer's team went 1–1. Schaefer had 3 points (3 goals) and Dobson had 2 (2 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 →