Who to start · 2025-26
Mattias Ekholm vs Quinn Hughes
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Quinn Hughes projects to 2.16 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mattias Ekholm's 1.43.
Ekholm had 41 points in 82 games; Hughes had 76 in 74 games.
This week Ekholm has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Hughes has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Hughes for 1.7 ESPN points to Ekholm's 1.1.
They split the 34 stats both are ranked on 16–16.
Ekholm's biggest edges: Plus/minus +32, Hits 65, Forecheck xG /60 0.36.
Hughes's biggest edges: 20+ mph bursts 174, Ascension score 57, Power-play share 83.4%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mattias Ekholm
1.43
fantasy points per game
Quinn Hughes
2.16
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Quinn Hughes has the edge.
| Points per game from | Ekholm | Hughes |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.13 | 0.18 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 0.94 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.22 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.15 | 0.27 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.01 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.67 | 0.55 |
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: Ekholm vs Hughes
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2018-19 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Ekholm 4G 7A, 47 SOG · Hughes 4G 26A, 47 SOG
Ekholm blocked 1 of Hughes's shots; Hughes blocked 0 of Ekholm's.
On the ice against each other (Ekholm's side)
26:18 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Ekholm's side
- Shot attempts
- 30–28
- 51.7%
- Expected goals
- 1.7–3.0
- 35.4%
- Goals
- 0–4
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Ekholm | Hughes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-31 | EDM 3–7 MIN | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2025-12-20 | EDM 2–5 MIN | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-10-11 | EDM 3–1 VAN | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-01-23 | EDM 6–2 VAN | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-01-18 | EDM 2–3 VAN | 0G 0A 1S | 2G 0A 5S |
| 2024-11-09 | EDM 7–3 VAN | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2024-05-20 · PO | EDM 3–2 VAN | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-05-18 · PO | EDM 5–1 VAN | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-05-16 · PO | EDM 2–3 VAN | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-05-14 · PO | EDM 3–2 VAN | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-05-12 · PO | EDM 3–4 VAN | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2024-05-10 · PO | EDM 4–3 VAN | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
Latest 12 of 24 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.
Mattias Ekholm
3games (1 left)
1.1proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VANOpp allows 5th-most FP to DLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 5th-most FP to DLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.1 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to DLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)
Quinn Hughes
2games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NSHOpp allows 11th-most FP to DLikely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs BOS1.7 ptsOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to DSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mattias Ekholm or Quinn Hughes in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Quinn Hughes projects to 2.16 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mattias Ekholm's 1.43. Ekholm had 41 points in 82 games; Hughes had 76 in 74 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, Mattias Ekholm or Quinn Hughes?
- On 2025-26 numbers they split 16–16 across 34 stats where both qualify.
- How have Ekholm and Hughes done against each other?
- In 24 games against each other in our data, Ekholm's team went 12–12. Ekholm had 11 points (4 goals) and Hughes had 30 (4 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 →