Who to start · 2025-26
Nick Schmaltz vs Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nick Schmaltz projects to 2.05 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins's 1.70.
Schmaltz had 74 points in 82 games; Nugent-Hopkins had 56 in 72 games.
This week Schmaltz has 2 games left; Nugent-Hopkins has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Schmaltz for 3.1 ESPN points to Nugent-Hopkins's 1.1.
Nick Schmaltz has the better number in 25 of the 35 stats both are ranked on.
Schmaltz's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.052, Plus/minus +17, 20+ mph bursts 208.
Nugent-Hopkins's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.34, Transition attempts /60 1.26, Power-play share 86.6%.
Head to head on the dot, Schmaltz leads Nugent-Hopkins 14–13.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Nick Schmaltz
2.04
fantasy points per game
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
1.70
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nick Schmaltz has the edge.
| Points per game from | Schmaltz | Nugent-Hopkins |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.80 | 0.56 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.50 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.12 | 0.20 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.03 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.32 | 0.22 |
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: Schmaltz vs Nugent-Hopkins
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.
Schmaltz 3G 11A, 40 SOG · Nugent-Hopkins 10G 13A, 57 SOG
Schmaltz's offensive zone 9–2 · neutral 5–6 · Schmaltz's defensive zone 0–5 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Schmaltz's side)
12:48 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Schmaltz's side
- Shot attempts
- 11–9
- 55.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.6–0.3
- 65.7%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Schmaltz | Nugent-Hopkins |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-07 | UTA 6–5 EDM | 2G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2026-03-24 | UTA 2–5 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-10-28 | UTA 3–6 EDM | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-03-18 | UTA 1–7 EDM | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 2A 4S |
| 2024-12-31 | UTA 1–4 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-11-29 | UTA 3–4 EDM | 0G 0A 5S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-04-17 | ARI 5–2 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-04-12 | ARI 3–2 EDM | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2024-02-19 | ARI 3–6 EDM | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-03-27 | ARI 4–5 EDM | 0G 2A 5S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2023-03-22 | ARI 3–4 EDM | 0G 2A 1S | 2G 0A 4S |
| 2022-12-07 | ARI 2–8 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 2G 1A 4S |
Latest 12 of 21 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.
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)
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
3games (1 left)
1.1proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VANOpp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.1 ptsOpp allows 6th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Nick Schmaltz or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins 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 Ryan Nugent-Hopkins's 1.70. Schmaltz had 74 points in 82 games; Nugent-Hopkins had 56 in 72 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, Nick Schmaltz or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nick Schmaltz leads in 25 of 35 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Schmaltz and Nugent-Hopkins done against each other?
- In 21 games against each other in our data, Schmaltz's team went 7–14. Schmaltz had 14 points (3 goals) and Nugent-Hopkins had 23 (10 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Schmaltz or Nugent-Hopkins?
- Against each other, Schmaltz has won 14 and Nugent-Hopkins 13 of their 27 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 →