Edgehalla

Who to start · 2025-26

Ryan Leonard vs Will Smith

Ryan LeonardRyan LeonardCapitals · Right wingvsWill SmithWill SmithSharks · Centre

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Will Smith projects to 1.94 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ryan Leonard's 1.59.

Leonard had 45 points in 75 games; Smith had 59 in 69 games.

This week Leonard has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Smith has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Smith for 1.9 ESPN points to Leonard's 1.8.

Will Smith has the better number in 22 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

Leonard's biggest edges: Hits 124, Top skating speed 24.3, Penalty minutes 47.

Smith's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 68.9%, Ascension score 64, Offensive-zone time 44.3%.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 3 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Ryan Leonard

1.59

fantasy points per game

Will Smith

1.94

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Will Smith has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromLeonardSmith
Goals (+2)0.630.90
Assists (+1)0.310.54
Power-play points (+0.5)0.090.15
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.000.00
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.210.24
Hits (+0.1)0.170.03
Blocks (+0.5)0.190.08

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

Ryan Leonard and Will Smith have no head-to-head events in our data yet (regular season and playoffs since 2019-20).

Every stat, side by side

Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.

LeonardSmith

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.

Ryan Leonard

2games (1 left)

1.8proj. ESPN pts

  • Fri, Oct 2 @ CAR
    Opp allows 5th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
  • Sat, Oct 3 @ TBLB2B1.8 pts
    Opp allows the most FP to RWSchedule edge −13.3 win%Likely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)

Will Smith

2games (1 left)

1.9proj. ESPN pts

  • Thu, Oct 1 vs FLA
    Opp allows 9th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Akira Schmid (.892)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs LAK1.9 pts
    Opp allows the most FP to CLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Ryan Leonard or Will Smith in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Will Smith projects to 1.94 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ryan Leonard's 1.59. Leonard had 45 points in 75 games; Smith had 59 in 69 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, Ryan Leonard or Will Smith?
On 2025-26 numbers, Will Smith leads in 22 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.

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 →