Who to start · 2025-26
Nick Schmaltz vs Vasily Podkolzin
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nick Schmaltz projects to 2.05 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Vasily Podkolzin's 1.91.
Schmaltz had 74 points in 82 games; Podkolzin had 37 in 82 games.
This week Schmaltz has 2 games left; Podkolzin has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Schmaltz for 3.1 ESPN points to Podkolzin's 1.3.
Nick Schmaltz has the better number in 28 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Schmaltz's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.26, Power-play time per game 3:08, Power-play share 68.9%.
Podkolzin's biggest edges: Hits 242, Ascension score 78, Forecheck xG /60 0.38.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 3 G, 1 A, 3 PPP, 11 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Nick Schmaltz
2.05
fantasy points per game
Vasily Podkolzin
1.91
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nick Schmaltz has the edge.
| Points per game from | Schmaltz | Podkolzin |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.88 | 0.76 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.47 | 0.25 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.11 | 0.10 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.21 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.03 | 0.30 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.30 | 0.28 |
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 Podkolzin
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Schmaltz 3G 1A, 21 SOG · Podkolzin 5G 5A, 11 SOG
Schmaltz's offensive zone 1–1 · neutral 0–0 · Schmaltz's defensive zone 0–0 (2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Schmaltz's side)
18:05 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Schmaltz's side
- Shot attempts
- 12–14
- 46.2%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.7
- 28.0%
- Goals
- 0–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Schmaltz | Podkolzin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-07 | UTA 6–5 EDM | 2G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2026-03-24 | UTA 2–5 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-10-28 | UTA 3–6 EDM | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-03-18 | UTA 1–7 EDM | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2024-12-31 | UTA 1–4 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2024-11-29 | UTA 3–4 EDM | 0G 0A 5S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2024-04-03 | ARI 1–2 VAN | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-04-14 | ARI 1–7 VAN | 0G 0A 2S | 2G 1A 2S |
| 2022-04-07 | ARI 1–5 VAN | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2022-02-08 | ARI 1–5 VAN | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
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)
Vasily Podkolzin
3games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VANOpp allows 9th-most FP to RWLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 9th-most FP to RWLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.3 ptsOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Nick Schmaltz or Vasily Podkolzin 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 Vasily Podkolzin's 1.91. Schmaltz had 74 points in 82 games; Podkolzin had 37 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 Vasily Podkolzin?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nick Schmaltz leads in 28 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 Podkolzin done against each other?
- In 10 games against each other in our data, Schmaltz's team went 1–9. Schmaltz had 4 points (3 goals) and Podkolzin had 10 (5 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Schmaltz or Podkolzin?
- Against each other, Schmaltz has won 1 and Podkolzin 1 of their 2 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 →