Who to start · 2025-26
Nick Schmaltz vs Tomas Hertl
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nick Schmaltz projects to 2.05 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Tomas Hertl's 1.88.
Schmaltz had 74 points in 82 games; Hertl had 58 in 82 games.
This week Schmaltz has 2 games left; Hertl has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Schmaltz for 3.1 ESPN points to Hertl's 2.0.
Nick Schmaltz has the better number in 21 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Schmaltz's biggest edges: Goals above expected +5.3, Plus/minus +17, Luck Meter +44.
Hertl's biggest edges: Hits 114, Faceoff win % 57.8%, Draw Equity /100 +0.096.
Head to head on the dot, Hertl leads Schmaltz 34–23.
- • 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, 9 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Nick Schmaltz
2.05
fantasy points per game
Tomas Hertl
1.88
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nick Schmaltz has the edge.
| Points per game from | Schmaltz | Hertl |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.88 | 0.63 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.47 | 0.37 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.11 | 0.17 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.27 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.03 | 0.14 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.30 | 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: Schmaltz vs Hertl
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 10G 14A, 55 SOG · Hertl 15G 14A, 90 SOG
Schmaltz's offensive zone 9–14 · neutral 8–10 · Schmaltz's defensive zone 6–10 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
Schmaltz blocked 1 of Hertl's shots; Hertl blocked 0 of Schmaltz's.
On the ice against each other (Schmaltz's side)
19:06 at 5-on-5 over 8 games, 2025-26, from Schmaltz's side
- Shot attempts
- 19–13
- 59.4%
- Expected goals
- 0.7–0.7
- 49.7%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Schmaltz | Hertl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-01 · PO | UTA 1–5 VGK | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-04-29 · PO | UTA 4–5 VGK | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2026-04-27 · PO | UTA 4–5 VGK | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-04-24 · PO | UTA 4–2 VGK | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-04-21 · PO | UTA 3–2 VGK | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-04-19 · PO | UTA 2–4 VGK | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2026-03-19 | UTA 4–0 VGK | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-11-24 | UTA 5–1 VGK | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-11-20 | UTA 1–4 VGK | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2024-11-30 | UTA 6–0 VGK | 2G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2024-11-15 | UTA 2–4 VGK | 0G 0A 2S | 2G 0A 3S |
| 2024-11-02 | UTA 3–4 VGK | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 0S |
Latest 12 of 34 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)
Tomas Hertl
3games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs CHIOpp allows 8th-most FP to CLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs ANAOpp allows 9th-most FP to CLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ VAN2.0 ptsOpp allows 6th-most FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Nick Schmaltz or Tomas Hertl 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 Tomas Hertl's 1.88. Schmaltz had 74 points in 82 games; Hertl had 58 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, Nick Schmaltz or Tomas Hertl?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nick Schmaltz leads in 21 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 Hertl done against each other?
- In 34 games against each other in our data, Schmaltz's team went 15–19. Schmaltz had 24 points (10 goals) and Hertl had 29 (15 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Schmaltz or Hertl?
- Against each other, Schmaltz has won 23 and Hertl 34 of their 57 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 →