Who to start · 2025-26
Mika Zibanejad vs Will Smith
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mika Zibanejad projects to 2.27 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Will Smith's 1.94.
Zibanejad had 78 points in 81 games; Smith had 59 in 69 games.
This week Zibanejad has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Smith has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Smith for 1.9 ESPN points to Zibanejad's 1.5.
Mika Zibanejad has the better number in 23 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Zibanejad's biggest edges: Blocked shots 50, Hits 105, High-danger chances 53.8%.
Smith's biggest edges: Ascension score 64, Plus/minus +1, Transition attempts /60 2.05.
- • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 6 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mika Zibanejad
2.27
fantasy points per game
Will Smith
1.94
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mika Zibanejad has the edge.
| Points per game from | Zibanejad | Smith |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.81 | 0.90 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.51 | 0.54 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.21 | 0.15 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.14 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.34 | 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: Zibanejad 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.
Zibanejad 2G 1A, 11 SOG · Smith 2G 5A, 6 SOG
Zibanejad's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 0–0 · Zibanejad's defensive zone 1–0 (2024-25)
On the ice against each other (Zibanejad's side)
7:39 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Zibanejad's side
- Shot attempts
- 10–7
- 58.8%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.4
- 56.5%
- Goals
- 0–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Zibanejad | Smith |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-23 | NYR 1–3 SJS | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2025-10-23 | NYR 5–6 SJS | 1G 0A 2S | 2G 2A 2S |
| 2025-03-29 | NYR 6–1 SJS | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-11-14 | NYR 3–2 SJS | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
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.
Mika Zibanejad
4games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ BOSOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs TBLOpp allows 8th-most FP to CLikely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2BSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs John Gibson (.901)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA1.5 ptsOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
Will Smith
2games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs FLAOpp allows 9th-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 Mika Zibanejad or Will Smith in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mika Zibanejad projects to 2.27 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Will Smith's 1.94. Zibanejad had 78 points in 81 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, Mika Zibanejad or Will Smith?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mika Zibanejad leads in 23 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Zibanejad and Smith done against each other?
- In 4 games against each other in our data, Zibanejad's team went 2–2. Zibanejad had 3 points (2 goals) and Smith had 7 (2 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Zibanejad or Smith?
- Against each other, Zibanejad has won 1 and Smith 0 of their 1 head-to-head draws.
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 →