Who to start · 2025-26
Nick Schmaltz vs William Nylander
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, William Nylander projects to 2.36 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Nick Schmaltz's 2.05.
Schmaltz had 74 points in 82 games; Nylander had 79 in 65 games.
This week Schmaltz has 2 games left; Nylander has 1 left. We project Schmaltz for 3.1 ESPN points to Nylander's 2.1.
Nick Schmaltz has the better number in 23 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Schmaltz's biggest edges: Plus/minus +17, Expected goals 55.8%, Scoring chances 55.7%.
Nylander's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.67, Forecheck xG /60 0.33, Hardest shot 92.6.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Nick Schmaltz
2.05
fantasy points per game
William Nylander
2.36
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, William Nylander has the edge.
| Points per game from | Schmaltz | Nylander |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.88 | 1.05 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.47 | 0.67 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.11 | 0.14 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.03 | 0.02 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.30 | 0.24 |
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 Nylander
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 3A, 12 SOG · Nylander 8G 6A, 44 SOG
Schmaltz's offensive zone 1–1 · neutral 0–1 · Schmaltz's defensive zone 0–1 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
Schmaltz blocked 0 of Nylander's shots; Nylander blocked 1 of Schmaltz's.
On the ice against each other (Schmaltz's side)
13:50 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Schmaltz's side
- Shot attempts
- 9–7
- 56.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.3
- 48.4%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Schmaltz | Nylander |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-13 | UTA 6–1 TOR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-11-05 | UTA 3–5 TOR | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2025-03-10 | UTA 3–4 TOR | 1G 0A 5S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2024-11-24 | UTA 2–3 TOR | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 1A 5S |
| 2024-02-29 | ARI 2–4 TOR | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 2A 3S |
| 2024-02-21 | ARI 3–6 TOR | 0G 0A 0S | 2G 0A 7S |
| 2022-12-29 | ARI 6–3 TOR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2022-03-10 | ARI 5–4 TOR | 0G 1A 0S | 1G 1A 5S |
| 2022-01-12 | ARI 2–1 TOR | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 8S |
| 2020-02-11 | ARI 2–3 TOR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2019-11-21 | ARI 1–3 TOR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2018-01-24 | CHI 2–3 TOR | 1G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 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)
William Nylander
3games (1 left)
2.1proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs MTLOpp allows 12th-most FP to RWLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
- Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2BOpp allows 14th-most FP to RWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT2.1 ptsLikely vs Linus Ullmark (.891)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Nick Schmaltz or William Nylander in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, William Nylander projects to 2.36 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Nick Schmaltz's 2.05. Schmaltz had 74 points in 82 games; Nylander had 79 in 65 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 William Nylander?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nick Schmaltz leads in 23 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 Nylander done against each other?
- In 12 games against each other in our data, Schmaltz's team went 4–8. Schmaltz had 5 points (2 goals) and Nylander had 14 (8 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Schmaltz or Nylander?
- Against each other, Schmaltz has won 1 and Nylander 3 of their 4 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 →