Who to start · 2025-26
Nico Hischier vs Quinton Byfield
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nico Hischier projects to 1.93 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Quinton Byfield's 1.57.
Hischier had 66 points in 82 games; Byfield had 49 in 79 games.
This week Hischier has 1 game left; Byfield has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Hischier for 1.9 ESPN points to Byfield's 1.4.
Nico Hischier has the better number in 22 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Hischier's biggest edges: Draw Equity /100 +0.070, Faceoff win % 55.8%, Forecheck xG /60 0.33.
Byfield's biggest edges: Goals above expected +0.7, Ascension score 56, 20+ mph bursts 297.
Head to head on the dot, Hischier leads Byfield 12–3.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Nico Hischier
1.93
fantasy points per game
Quinton Byfield
1.57
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nico Hischier has the edge.
| Points per game from | Hischier | Byfield |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.64 | 0.57 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.43 | 0.30 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.13 | 0.07 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.39 | 0.32 |
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: Hischier vs Byfield
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.
Hischier 4G 4A, 28 SOG · Byfield 2G 0A, 19 SOG
Hischier's offensive zone 6–1 · neutral 2–0 · Hischier's defensive zone 4–2 (2021-22 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Hischier's side)
7:27 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Hischier's side
- Shot attempts
- 7–11
- 38.9%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.6
- 17.7%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Hischier | Byfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-14 | NJD 6–4 LAK | 2G 2A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-11-01 | NJD 4–1 LAK | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-01-01 | NJD 0–3 LAK | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2024-12-12 | NJD 3–1 LAK | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-03-03 | NJD 1–5 LAK | 0G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-02-15 | NJD 1–2 LAK | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2023-02-23 | NJD 4–3 LAK | 1G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-01-14 | NJD 5–2 LAK | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-01-23 | NJD 2–3 LAK | 0G 0A 4S | 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.
Nico Hischier
2games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs PHIOpp allows 7th-most FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Joseph Woll (.899)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NYI1.9 ptsOpp allows 15th-most FP to CSchedule edge −4.0 win%vs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
Quinton Byfield
2games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ COLOpp allows 10th-most FP to RWLikely vs Mackenzie Blackwood (.903)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ SJS1.4 ptsOpp allows 7th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge −3.2 win%Likely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Nico Hischier or Quinton Byfield in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nico Hischier projects to 1.93 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Quinton Byfield's 1.57. Hischier had 66 points in 82 games; Byfield had 49 in 79 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, Nico Hischier or Quinton Byfield?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nico Hischier leads in 22 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Hischier and Byfield done against each other?
- In 9 games against each other in our data, Hischier's team went 5–4. Hischier had 8 points (4 goals) and Byfield had 2 (2 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Hischier or Byfield?
- Against each other, Hischier has won 12 and Byfield 3 of their 15 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 →