Who to start · 2025-26
Nick Schmaltz vs Will Smith
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nick Schmaltz projects to 2.05 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Will Smith's 1.94.
Schmaltz had 74 points in 82 games; Smith had 59 in 69 games.
This week Schmaltz has 2 games left; Smith has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Schmaltz for 3.8 ESPN points to Smith's 1.9.
Nick Schmaltz has the better number in 27 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Schmaltz's biggest edges: Blocked shots 52, High-danger chances 53.6%, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.052.
Smith's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 2.05, Ascension score 64, On-ice PDO 1033.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Nick Schmaltz
2.05
fantasy points per game
Will Smith
1.94
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nick Schmaltz has the edge.
| Points per game from | Schmaltz | Smith |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.88 | 0.90 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.47 | 0.54 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.11 | 0.15 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.03 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.30 | 0.08 |
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 Smith
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2024-25 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Schmaltz 5G 2A, 10 SOG · Smith 2G 4A, 10 SOG
On the ice against each other (Schmaltz's side)
8:33 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Schmaltz's side
- Shot attempts
- 6–6
- 50.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.4
- 47.3%
- Goals
- 1–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Schmaltz | Smith |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-01 | UTA 3–6 SJS | 0G 0A 0S | 2G 1A 5S |
| 2025-11-18 | UTA 2–3 SJS | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2025-10-17 | UTA 6–3 SJS | 3G 1A 6S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-01-10 | UTA 2–1 SJS | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-12-14 | UTA 4–3 SJS | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
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)
3.8proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs CHIOpp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Arvid Soderblom (.880)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ CBJ1.8 ptsOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ NYRB2B2.0 ptsOpp allows 10th-most FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
Will Smith
2games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs FLAOpp allows 9th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Akira Schmid (.892)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs LAK1.9 ptsOpp allows the most FP to CSchedule edge +3.3 win%Likely vs Anton Forsberg (.910)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Nick Schmaltz or Will Smith 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 Will Smith's 1.94. Schmaltz had 74 points in 82 games; Smith had 59 in 69 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 Will Smith?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nick Schmaltz leads in 27 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 Smith done against each other?
- In 5 games against each other in our data, Schmaltz's team went 3–2. Schmaltz had 7 points (5 goals) and Smith had 6 (2 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 →