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Who to start · 2025-26

Nico Hischier vs Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

Nico HischierNico HischierDevils · CentrevsRyan Nugent-HopkinsRyan Nugent-HopkinsOilers · Centre

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nico Hischier projects to 1.93 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins's 1.70.

Hischier had 66 points in 82 games; Nugent-Hopkins had 56 in 72 games.

This week Hischier has 1 game left; Nugent-Hopkins has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Hischier for 2.0 ESPN points to Nugent-Hopkins's 1.1.

Nico Hischier has the better number in 25 of the 35 stats both are ranked on.

Hischier's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.007, Draw Equity /100 +0.070, Faceoff win % 55.8%.

Nugent-Hopkins's biggest edges: Goals above expected +2.1, Offensive-zone start % 60.5%, Offensive-zone time 46.0%.

Head to head on the dot, Nugent-Hopkins leads Hischier 17–14.

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

Fantasy value: your scoring

Nico Hischier

2.00

fantasy points per game

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

1.70

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Nico Hischier has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromHischierNugent-Hopkins
Goals (+2)0.680.56
Assists (+1)0.460.50
Power-play points (+0.5)0.140.20
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.010.01
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.260.18
Hits (+0.1)0.070.03
Blocks (+0.5)0.380.22

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 Nugent-Hopkins

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.

HischierNugent-Hopkins
8Team record in 14 meetings6
13Points in those games15

Hischier 1G 12A, 24 SOG · Nugent-Hopkins 5G 10A, 39 SOG

14Faceoffs against each other17

Hischier's offensive zone 5–5 · neutral 6–7 · Hischier's defensive zone 3–5 (2017-18 to 2025-26)

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

17:51 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Hischier's side

Shot attempts
10–18
35.7%
Expected goals
0.3–0.8
28.8%
Goals
0–1

Games against each other

Games between Nico Hischier and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
DateScoreHischierNugent-Hopkins
2026-01-20NJD 2–1 EDM0G 0A 0S0G 0A 1S
2025-10-18NJD 5–3 EDM0G 2A 4S2G 0A 3S
2025-03-13NJD 3–2 EDM0G 1A 2S0G 0A 3S
2024-11-04NJD 3–0 EDM0G 1A 1S0G 0A 3S
2023-12-21NJD 3–6 EDM0G 0A 0S1G 1A 5S
2023-12-10NJD 1–4 EDM0G 1A 1S0G 1A 1S
2022-11-21NJD 5–2 EDM0G 3A 0S1G 0A 7S
2022-11-03NJD 4–3 EDM0G 1A 3S0G 0A 2S
2021-12-31NJD 6–5 EDM1G 0A 4S0G 1A 2S
2019-11-08NJD 0–4 EDM0G 0A 2S0G 2A 2S
2019-10-10NJD 3–4 EDM0G 1A 3S0G 2A 0S
2018-10-06NJD 5–2 EDM0G 1A 2S0G 0A 1S

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.

HischierNugent-Hopkins

Fantasy box score

Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

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)

2.0proj. ESPN pts

  • Thu, Oct 1 vs PHI
    Opp allows 5th-most FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Joseph Woll (.899)
  • Sat, Oct 3 @ NYI2.0 pts
    Opp allows 13th-most FP to Cvs Ilya Sorokin (.906)

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

3games (1 left)

1.1proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 vs VAN
    Opp allows 4th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
  • Thu, Oct 1 @ VAN
    Opp allows 4th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.1 pts
    Opp allows 6th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Nico Hischier or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins 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 Ryan Nugent-Hopkins's 1.70. Hischier had 66 points in 82 games; Nugent-Hopkins had 56 in 72 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 Ryan Nugent-Hopkins?
On 2025-26 numbers, Nico Hischier leads in 25 of 35 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
How have Hischier and Nugent-Hopkins done against each other?
In 14 games against each other in our data, Hischier's team went 8–6. Hischier had 13 points (1 goals) and Nugent-Hopkins had 15 (5 goals).
Who wins more faceoffs, Hischier or Nugent-Hopkins?
Against each other, Hischier has won 14 and Nugent-Hopkins 17 of their 31 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 →