Who to start · 2025-26
Pavel Zacha vs Quinn Hughes
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Quinn Hughes projects to 2.16 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70.
Zacha had 65 points in 78 games; Hughes had 76 in 74 games.
This week Zacha has 1 game left; Hughes has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Hughes for 1.7 ESPN points to Zacha's 1.1.
Quinn Hughes has the better number in 24 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Zacha's biggest edges: Goals above expected +8.8, Luck Meter +78, Hits 64.
Hughes's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.47, 20+ mph bursts 174, Ascension score 57.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Pavel Zacha
1.70
fantasy points per game
Quinn Hughes
2.16
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Quinn Hughes has the edge.
| Points per game from | Zacha | Hughes |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.68 | 0.18 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.40 | 0.94 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.12 | 0.22 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.27 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.01 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.24 | 0.55 |
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: Zacha vs Hughes
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2019-20 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Zacha 5G 5A, 26 SOG · Hughes 1G 7A, 30 SOG
Zacha blocked 2 of Hughes's shots; Hughes blocked 0 of Zacha's.
On the ice against each other (Zacha's side)
10:51 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Zacha's side
- Shot attempts
- 24–12
- 66.7%
- Expected goals
- 1.0–0.4
- 72.3%
- Goals
- 3–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Zacha | Hughes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-28 | BOS 6–3 MIN | 2G 0A 4S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2025-12-14 | BOS 2–6 MIN | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-12-14 | BOS 5–1 VAN | 1G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-11-26 | BOS 0–2 VAN | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-02-24 | BOS 2–3 VAN | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 7S |
| 2024-02-08 | BOS 4–0 VAN | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-02-25 | BOS 3–1 VAN | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-11-13 | BOS 5–2 VAN | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2022-03-15 | NJD 3–6 VAN | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2022-02-28 | NJD 7–2 VAN | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2019-11-10 | NJD 2–1 VAN | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2019-10-19 | NJD 1–0 VAN | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 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.
Pavel Zacha
3games (1 left)
1.1proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs NYROpp allows 10th-most FP to CLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ WPGLikely vs Stuart Skinner (.888)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ MINB2B1.1 ptsOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Jesper Wallstedt (.916)
Quinn Hughes
2games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NSHOpp allows 11th-most FP to DLikely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs BOS1.7 ptsOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to DSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Pavel Zacha or Quinn Hughes in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Quinn Hughes projects to 2.16 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Zacha's 1.70. Zacha had 65 points in 78 games; Hughes had 76 in 74 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, Pavel Zacha or Quinn Hughes?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Quinn Hughes leads in 24 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Zacha and Hughes done against each other?
- In 12 games against each other in our data, Zacha's team went 8–4. Zacha had 10 points (5 goals) and Hughes had 8 (1 goals).
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 →