Who to start · 2025-26
Nick Schmaltz vs Sam Bennett
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nick Schmaltz projects to 2.05 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Bennett's 1.74.
Schmaltz had 74 points in 82 games; Bennett had 58 in 76 games.
This week Schmaltz has 2 games left; Bennett has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Schmaltz for 3.1 ESPN points to Bennett's 1.9.
Nick Schmaltz has the better number in 26 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Schmaltz's biggest edges: Plus/minus +17, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.26, Top skating speed 23.2.
Bennett's biggest edges: Hits 115, Penalty minutes 82, Hardest shot 92.9.
Head to head on the dot, Bennett leads Schmaltz 10–2.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Nick Schmaltz
2.05
fantasy points per game
Sam Bennett
1.74
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nick Schmaltz has the edge.
| Points per game from | Schmaltz | Bennett |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.88 | 0.60 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.47 | 0.43 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.11 | 0.09 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.03 | 0.19 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.30 | 0.19 |
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 Bennett
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 2G 4A, 21 SOG · Bennett 6G 5A, 45 SOG
Schmaltz's offensive zone 2–5 · neutral 0–3 · Schmaltz's defensive zone 0–2 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Schmaltz's side)
7:11 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Schmaltz's side
- Shot attempts
- 7–8
- 46.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.6
- 35.9%
- Goals
- 1–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Schmaltz | Bennett |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-27 | UTA 4–3 FLA | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-12-10 | UTA 3–4 FLA | 0G 0A 1S | 2G 1A 4S |
| 2025-03-28 | UTA 1–2 FLA | 0G 0A 1S | 2G 0A 6S |
| 2025-01-08 | UTA 1–4 FLA | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-01-24 | ARI 2–6 FLA | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2024-01-02 | ARI 1–4 FLA | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-01-03 | ARI 3–5 FLA | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2021-12-10 | ARI 1–3 FLA | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2021-10-25 | ARI 3–5 FLA | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 2A 4S |
| 2020-03-06 | ARI 2–3 CGY | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2019-11-16 | ARI 3–0 CGY | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2019-11-05 | ARI 3–4 CGY | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
Latest 12 of 16 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)
Sam Bennett
3games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ CAROpp allows 13th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ SJSOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ ANA1.9 ptsOpp allows 9th-most FP to CLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Nick Schmaltz or Sam Bennett 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 Sam Bennett's 1.74. Schmaltz had 74 points in 82 games; Bennett had 58 in 76 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 Sam Bennett?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nick Schmaltz leads in 26 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Schmaltz and Bennett done against each other?
- In 16 games against each other in our data, Schmaltz's team went 2–14. Schmaltz had 6 points (2 goals) and Bennett had 11 (6 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Schmaltz or Bennett?
- Against each other, Schmaltz has won 2 and Bennett 10 of their 12 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 →