Who to start · 2025-26
Rasmus Sandin vs Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
In 2025-26, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored 1.70 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Rasmus Sandin's 1.59.
Sandin had 29 points in 73 games; Nugent-Hopkins had 56 in 72 games.
This week Sandin has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Nugent-Hopkins has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Sandin for 1.7 ESPN points to Nugent-Hopkins's 1.1.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has the better number in 23 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Sandin's biggest edges: Hits 88, 20+ mph bursts 61, Net penalties drawn /60 −0.09.
Nugent-Hopkins's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 46.0%, Forecheck xG /60 0.34, High-danger chances 54.8%.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Rasmus Sandin
1.59
fantasy points per game
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
1.70
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has the edge.
| Points per game from | Sandin | Nugent-Hopkins |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.14 | 0.56 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.33 | 0.50 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.20 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.12 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.12 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.87 | 0.22 |
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: Sandin vs Nugent-Hopkins
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2023-24 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Sandin 0G 1A, 5 SOG · Nugent-Hopkins 2G 6A, 8 SOG
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Sandin | Nugent-Hopkins |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-24 | WSH 5–6 EDM | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-02-23 | WSH 7–3 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2025-01-21 | WSH 3–2 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-03-13 | WSH 2–7 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2023-11-24 | WSH 0–5 EDM | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 2A 2S |
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.
Rasmus Sandin
2games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ CAROpp allows 10th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TBLB2B1.7 ptsOpp allows 7th-most FP to DSchedule edge −13.3 win%Likely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
3games (1 left)
1.1proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VANOpp allows 4th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 4th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.1 ptsOpp allows 6th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Rasmus Sandin or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in fantasy hockey?
- In 2025-26, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored 1.70 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Rasmus Sandin's 1.59. Sandin had 29 points in 73 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, Rasmus Sandin or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins leads in 23 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Sandin and Nugent-Hopkins done against each other?
- In 5 games against each other in our data, Sandin's team went 2–3. Sandin had 1 points (0 goals) and Nugent-Hopkins had 8 (2 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 →