Edgehalla

Who to start · 2025-26

Nick Schmaltz vs Travis Sanheim

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nick Schmaltz projects to 2.05 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Travis Sanheim's 1.84.

Schmaltz had 74 points in 82 games; Sanheim had 37 in 81 games.

This week Schmaltz has 2 games left; Sanheim has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Schmaltz for 3.1 ESPN points to Sanheim's 2.1.

Nick Schmaltz has the better number in 25 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

Schmaltz's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 65.4%, Offensive-zone time 45.4%, Corsi 55.9%.

Sanheim's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 0.48, Hits 46, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.12.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Nick Schmaltz

2.05

fantasy points per game

Travis Sanheim

1.84

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Nick Schmaltz has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromSchmaltzSanheim
Goals (+2)0.880.36
Assists (+1)0.470.34
Power-play points (+0.5)0.110.02
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.010.02
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.250.14
Hits (+0.1)0.030.05
Blocks (+0.5)0.300.92

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 Sanheim

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.

SchmaltzSanheim
8Team record in 14 meetings6
11Points in those games4

Schmaltz 2G 9A, 27 SOG · Sanheim 0G 4A, 27 SOG

0Hits on each other3
1Shots blocked by the other1

Schmaltz blocked 1 of Sanheim's shots; Sanheim blocked 1 of Schmaltz's.

On the ice against each other (Schmaltz's side)

17:58 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Schmaltz's side

Shot attempts
22–15
59.5%
Expected goals
0.6–1.0
36.4%
Goals
1–1

Games against each other

Games between Nick Schmaltz and Travis Sanheim
DateScoreSchmaltzSanheim
2026-03-05UTA 3–0 PHI1G 1A 2S0G 0A 0S
2026-01-21UTA 5–4 PHI0G 2A 1S0G 1A 1S
2025-02-04UTA 3–2 PHI0G 0A 5S0G 1A 1S
2024-12-08UTA 4–2 PHI0G 0A 2S0G 0A 1S
2024-02-12ARI 3–5 PHI0G 0A 3S0G 1A 0S
2023-12-07ARI 1–4 PHI0G 0A 2S0G 1A 2S
2023-01-05ARI 2–6 PHI0G 1A 1S0G 0A 1S
2022-12-11ARI 5–4 PHI0G 2A 2S0G 0A 2S
2021-12-11ARI 3–5 PHI1G 1A 5S0G 0A 4S
2020-01-04ARI 6–2 PHI0G 2A 1S0G 0A 3S
2019-12-05ARI 3–1 PHI0G 0A 1S0G 0A 3S
2018-11-10CHI 0–4 PHI0G 0A 2S0G 0A 2S

Latest 12 of 14 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.

SchmaltzSanheim

Fantasy box score

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 CHI
    Opp allows 8th-most FP to CLikely vs Arvid Soderblom (.880)
  • Sat, Oct 3 @ CBJ1.7 pts
    Opp allows 16th-most FP to CSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
  • Sun, Oct 4 @ NYRB2B1.4 pts
    Opp allows 15th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)

Travis Sanheim

3games (1 left)

2.1proj. ESPN pts

  • Wed, Sep 30 vs PIT
    Opp allows the fewest FP to DLikely vs Arturs Silovs (.888)
  • Thu, Oct 1 @ NJDB2B
    Opp allows 6th-most FP to DSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Jake Allen (.904)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs CAR2.1 pts
    Opp allows 10th-most FP to DSchedule edge +12.9 win%Likely vs Pyotr Kochetkov (.899)

FAQ

Should I start Nick Schmaltz or Travis Sanheim 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 Travis Sanheim's 1.84. Schmaltz had 74 points in 82 games; Sanheim had 37 in 81 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 Travis Sanheim?
On 2025-26 numbers, Nick Schmaltz leads in 25 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
How have Schmaltz and Sanheim done against each other?
In 14 games against each other in our data, Schmaltz's team went 8–6. Schmaltz had 11 points (2 goals) and Sanheim had 4 (0 goals).

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 →