Who to start · 2025-26
Mitch Marner 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 Mitch Marner's 1.88.
Marner had 80 points in 81 games; Schmaltz had 74 in 82 games.
This week Marner has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Schmaltz has 2 left. We project Schmaltz for 3.1 ESPN points to Marner's 2.3.
Nick Schmaltz has the better number in 20 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Marner's biggest edges: High-danger chances 59.0%, On-ice PDO 1019, Power-play time per game 3:32.
Schmaltz's biggest edges: 20+ mph bursts 208, Top skating speed 23.2, Luck Meter +44.
Head to head on the dot, Marner leads Schmaltz 10–9.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 5 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mitch Marner
1.88
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 | Marner | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.52 | 0.88 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.67 | 0.47 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.16 | 0.11 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.21 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.03 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.28 | 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: Marner vs Schmaltz
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Marner 5G 12A, 44 SOG · Schmaltz 3G 8A, 24 SOG
Marner's offensive zone 2–0 · neutral 2–4 · Marner's defensive zone 6–5 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
Marner blocked 0 of Schmaltz's shots; Schmaltz blocked 1 of Marner's.
On the ice against each other (Marner's side)
38:12 at 5-on-5 over 8 games, 2025-26, from Marner's side
- Shot attempts
- 34–33
- 50.7%
- Expected goals
- 1.5–1.4
- 50.8%
- Goals
- 1–3
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Marner | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-01 · PO | VGK 5–1 UTA | 2G 1A 7S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2026-04-29 · PO | VGK 5–4 UTA | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2026-04-27 · PO | VGK 5–4 UTA | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2026-04-24 · PO | VGK 2–4 UTA | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2026-04-21 · PO | VGK 2–3 UTA | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2026-04-19 · PO | VGK 4–2 UTA | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2026-03-19 | VGK 0–4 UTA | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-11-24 | VGK 1–5 UTA | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-11-20 | VGK 4–1 UTA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-03-10 | TOR 4–3 UTA | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2024-11-24 | TOR 3–2 UTA | 2G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-02-29 | TOR 4–2 ARI | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
Latest 12 of 18 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.
Mitch Marner
3games (1 left)
2.3proj. 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 @ VAN2.3 ptsOpp allows 9th-most FP to RWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
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 Mitch Marner 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 Mitch Marner's 1.88. Marner had 80 points in 81 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, Mitch Marner or Nick Schmaltz?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nick Schmaltz leads in 20 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Marner and Schmaltz done against each other?
- In 18 games against each other in our data, Marner's team went 12–6. Marner had 17 points (5 goals) and Schmaltz had 11 (3 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Marner or Schmaltz?
- Against each other, Marner has won 10 and Schmaltz 9 of their 19 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 →