Who to start · 2025-26
Nico Hischier vs Tomas Hertl
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nico Hischier projects to 1.93 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Tomas Hertl's 1.88.
Hischier had 66 points in 82 games; Hertl had 58 in 82 games.
This week Hischier has 1 game left; Hertl has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Hertl for 2.0 ESPN points to Hischier's 1.9.
Nico Hischier has the better number in 19 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Hischier's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.33, Top skating speed 22.8, 20+ mph bursts 109.
Hertl's biggest edges: Ascension score 61, Offensive-zone start % 61.8%, Offensive-zone time 47.7%.
Head to head on the dot, Hischier leads Hertl 28–25.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 9 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Nico Hischier
1.93
fantasy points per game
Tomas Hertl
1.88
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nico Hischier has the edge.
| Points per game from | Hischier | Hertl |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.64 | 0.63 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.43 | 0.37 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.13 | 0.17 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.27 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.14 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.39 | 0.30 |
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 Hertl
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 1G 5A, 29 SOG · Hertl 2G 6A, 22 SOG
Hischier's offensive zone 10–6 · neutral 8–9 · Hischier's defensive zone 10–10 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
Hischier blocked 1 of Hertl's shots; Hertl blocked 1 of Hischier's.
On the ice against each other (Hischier's side)
8:04 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Hischier's side
- Shot attempts
- 11–10
- 52.4%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.4
- 54.3%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Hischier | Hertl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-17 | NJD 2–1 VGK | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2025-12-05 | NJD 0–3 VGK | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2025-03-02 | NJD 0–2 VGK | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-12-01 | NJD 3–6 SJS | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-01-16 | NJD 4–3 SJS | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2022-10-22 | NJD 2–1 SJS | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2021-11-30 | NJD 2–5 SJS | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2021-11-06 | NJD 3–2 SJS | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2018-12-10 | NJD 2–5 SJS | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2018-10-14 | NJD 3–2 SJS | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2018-03-20 | NJD 2–6 SJS | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2017-10-20 | NJD 0–3 SJS | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 0S |
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)
Tomas Hertl
3games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs CHIOpp allows 8th-most FP to CLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs ANAOpp allows 9th-most FP to CLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ VAN2.0 ptsOpp allows 6th-most FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Nico Hischier or Tomas Hertl 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 Tomas Hertl's 1.88. Hischier had 66 points in 82 games; Hertl had 58 in 82 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 Tomas Hertl?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nico Hischier leads in 19 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 Hertl done against each other?
- In 12 games against each other in our data, Hischier's team went 5–7. Hischier had 6 points (1 goals) and Hertl had 8 (2 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Hischier or Hertl?
- Against each other, Hischier has won 28 and Hertl 25 of their 53 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 →