Who to start · 2025-26
Nico Hischier vs Sam Bennett
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nico Hischier projects to 1.93 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Bennett's 1.74.
Hischier had 66 points in 82 games; Bennett had 58 in 76 games.
This week Hischier has 1 game left; Bennett has 1 left. We project Hischier for 2.0 ESPN points to Bennett's 1.8.
Nico Hischier has the better number in 26 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Hischier's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.28, Faceoff win % 55.8%, Draw Equity /100 +0.070.
Bennett's biggest edges: Luck Meter +20, On-ice PDO 1007, Goals above expected −0.1.
Head to head on the dot, Hischier leads Bennett 36–28.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Nico Hischier
1.93
fantasy points per game
Sam Bennett
1.74
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nico Hischier has the edge.
| Points per game from | Hischier | Bennett |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.64 | 0.60 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.43 | 0.43 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.13 | 0.09 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.19 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.39 | 0.19 |
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 Bennett
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.
Hischier 4G 8A, 46 SOG · Bennett 1G 6A, 40 SOG
Hischier's offensive zone 7–10 · neutral 15–7 · Hischier's defensive zone 14–11 (2019-20 to 2025-26)
Hischier blocked 0 of Bennett's shots; Bennett blocked 1 of Hischier's.
On the ice against each other (Hischier's side)
9:34 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Hischier's side
- Shot attempts
- 9–19
- 32.1%
- Expected goals
- 0.6–0.7
- 46.4%
- Goals
- 2–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Hischier | Bennett |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-03 | NJD 5–1 FLA | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-11-20 | NJD 0–1 FLA | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-10-16 | NJD 3–1 FLA | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-01-14 | NJD 1–2 FLA | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-11-14 | NJD 6–2 FLA | 0G 3A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-03-05 | NJD 3–5 FLA | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-01-13 | NJD 4–1 FLA | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-03-18 | NJD 2–4 FLA | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2022-12-21 | NJD 4–2 FLA | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2022-12-17 | NJD 2–4 FLA | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2022-04-02 | NJD 6–7 FLA | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2021-11-18 | NJD 1–4 FLA | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 5S |
Latest 12 of 17 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.
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)
2.0proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs PHISchedule edge +9.3 win%
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NYI2.0 pts
Sam Bennett
3games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Tue, Sep 29 @ CAR
- Thu, Oct 1 @ SJSSchedule edge −1.0 win%
- Sun, Oct 4 @ ANA1.8 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Nico Hischier or Sam Bennett 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 Sam Bennett's 1.74. Hischier had 66 points in 82 games; Bennett had 58 in 76 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 Sam Bennett?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nico Hischier leads in 26 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 Bennett done against each other?
- In 17 games against each other in our data, Hischier's team went 6–11. Hischier had 12 points (4 goals) and Bennett had 7 (1 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Hischier or Bennett?
- Against each other, Hischier has won 36 and Bennett 28 of their 64 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 →