Who to start · 2025-26
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins vs Sam Bennett
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Sam Bennett projects to 1.74 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins's 1.70.
Nugent-Hopkins had 56 points in 72 games; Bennett had 58 in 76 games.
This week Nugent-Hopkins has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Bennett has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Bennett for 1.9 ESPN points to Nugent-Hopkins's 1.1.
Sam Bennett has the better number in 19 of the 35 stats both are ranked on.
Nugent-Hopkins's biggest edges: Goals above expected +2.6, Top skating speed 22.8, Net penalties drawn /60 −0.17.
Bennett's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.018, Hits 115, Penalty minutes 82.
Head to head on the dot, Bennett leads Nugent-Hopkins 29–22.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
1.70
fantasy points per game
Sam Bennett
1.83
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Sam Bennett has the edge.
| Points per game from | Nugent-Hopkins | Bennett |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.56 | 0.68 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.42 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.20 | 0.10 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.26 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.03 | 0.15 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.21 |
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: Nugent-Hopkins 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.
Nugent-Hopkins 12G 8A, 76 SOG · Bennett 13G 13A, 85 SOG
Nugent-Hopkins's offensive zone 4–8 · neutral 11–6 · Nugent-Hopkins's defensive zone 7–15 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
Nugent-Hopkins blocked 1 of Bennett's shots; Bennett blocked 1 of Nugent-Hopkins's.
On the ice against each other (Nugent-Hopkins's side)
2:19 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Nugent-Hopkins's side
- Shot attempts
- 0–4
- 0.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.0–0.3
- 0.0%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Nugent-Hopkins | Bennett |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-19 | EDM 0–4 FLA | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2025-06-17 · PO | EDM 1–5 FLA | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-06-14 · PO | EDM 2–5 FLA | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-06-12 · PO | EDM 5–4 FLA | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-06-09 · PO | EDM 1–6 FLA | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-06-06 · PO | EDM 4–5 FLA | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-06-04 · PO | EDM 4–3 FLA | 0G 0A 3S | 2G 0A 5S |
| 2025-02-27 | EDM 3–4 FLA | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2024-12-16 | EDM 5–6 FLA | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-06-24 · PO | EDM 1–2 FLA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-06-21 · PO | EDM 5–1 FLA | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-06-18 · PO | EDM 5–3 FLA | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 0S |
Latest 12 of 37 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.
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
3games (1 left)
1.1proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VANOpp allows 6th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 6th-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)
Sam Bennett
3games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ CAROpp allows 13th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ SJSOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ ANA1.9 ptsOpp allows 9th-most FP to CLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Ryan Nugent-Hopkins or Sam Bennett in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Sam Bennett projects to 1.74 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins's 1.70. Nugent-Hopkins had 56 points in 72 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, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins or Sam Bennett?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Sam Bennett leads in 19 of 35 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Nugent-Hopkins and Bennett done against each other?
- In 37 games against each other in our data, Nugent-Hopkins's team went 16–21. Nugent-Hopkins had 20 points (12 goals) and Bennett had 26 (13 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Nugent-Hopkins or Bennett?
- Against each other, Nugent-Hopkins has won 22 and Bennett 29 of their 51 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 →