Who to start · 2025-26
Nick Schmaltz vs Sebastian Aho
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nick Schmaltz projects to 2.05 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sebastian Aho's 2.01.
Schmaltz had 74 points in 82 games; Aho had 80 in 79 games.
This week Schmaltz has 2 games left; Aho has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Schmaltz for 3.1 ESPN points to Aho's 2.2.
Nick Schmaltz has the better number in 20 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Schmaltz's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.052, Goals above expected +5.3, Blocked shots 52.
Aho's biggest edges: Hits 63, Forecheck xG /60 0.39, Faceoff win % 50.5%.
Head to head on the dot, Aho leads Schmaltz 19–16.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Nick Schmaltz
2.05
fantasy points per game
Sebastian Aho
2.01
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nick Schmaltz has the edge.
| Points per game from | Schmaltz | Aho |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.88 | 0.72 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.47 | 0.59 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.11 | 0.17 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.04 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.03 | 0.07 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.30 | 0.16 |
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 Aho
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 1A, 22 SOG · Aho 11G 6A, 50 SOG
Schmaltz's offensive zone 4–7 · neutral 6–8 · Schmaltz's defensive zone 6–4 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
Schmaltz blocked 0 of Aho's shots; Aho blocked 1 of Schmaltz's.
On the ice against each other (Schmaltz's side)
13:37 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Schmaltz's side
- Shot attempts
- 7–16
- 30.4%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.8
- 28.1%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Schmaltz | Aho |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-11 | UTA 1–4 CAR | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2026-01-29 | UTA 4–5 CAR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-02-08 | UTA 3–7 CAR | 0G 0A 0S | 2G 1A 5S |
| 2024-11-13 | UTA 4–1 CAR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-02-16 | ARI 1–5 CAR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-01-27 | ARI 1–3 CAR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-03-03 | ARI 1–6 CAR | 0G 0A 1S | 2G 1A 5S |
| 2022-11-23 | ARI 4–0 CAR | 1G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2022-04-18 | ARI 3–5 CAR | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 6S |
| 2020-02-06 | ARI 3–5 CAR | 0G 1A 1S | 2G 1A 3S |
| 2020-01-10 | ARI 0–3 CAR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2018-12-16 | ARI 0–3 CAR | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 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)
Sebastian Aho
3games (1 left)
2.2proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs FLAOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jacob Markstrom (.883)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs WSHOpp allows 9th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Logan Thompson (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ PHIB2B2.2 ptsOpp allows 7th-most FP to CSchedule edge −12.8 win%Likely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Nick Schmaltz or Sebastian Aho 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 Sebastian Aho's 2.01. Schmaltz had 74 points in 82 games; Aho had 80 in 79 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 Sebastian Aho?
- 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 Schmaltz and Aho done against each other?
- In 16 games against each other in our data, Schmaltz's team went 3–13. Schmaltz had 3 points (2 goals) and Aho had 17 (11 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Schmaltz or Aho?
- Against each other, Schmaltz has won 16 and Aho 19 of their 35 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 →