Who to start · 2025-26
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins vs Sam Malinski
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins projects to 1.70 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Malinski's 1.44.
Nugent-Hopkins had 56 points in 72 games; Malinski had 40 in 82 games.
This week Nugent-Hopkins has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Malinski has 1 left. We project Malinski for 1.4 ESPN points to Nugent-Hopkins's 1.1.
Sam Malinski has the better number in 17 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Nugent-Hopkins's biggest edges: Ice-time share 31.4%, Ice time per game 19:04, Power-play share 86.6%.
Malinski's biggest edges: Plus/minus +43, On-ice PDO 1035, 20+ mph bursts 116.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
1.70
fantasy points per game
Sam Malinski
1.43
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has the edge.
| Points per game from | Nugent-Hopkins | Malinski |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.56 | 0.20 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.39 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.20 | 0.01 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.20 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.03 | 0.06 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.58 |
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 Malinski
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2024-25 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Nugent-Hopkins 3G 3A, 7 SOG · Malinski 1G 2A, 10 SOG
On the ice against each other (Nugent-Hopkins's side)
11:09 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Nugent-Hopkins's side
- Shot attempts
- 8–15
- 34.8%
- Expected goals
- 0.6–0.2
- 74.0%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Nugent-Hopkins | Malinski |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-13 | EDM 1–2 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2026-03-10 | EDM 4–3 COL | 2G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2025-11-08 | EDM 1–9 COL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-02-07 | EDM 4–5 COL | 0G 2A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-11-30 | EDM 4–1 COL | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
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 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)
Sam Malinski
2games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows 3rd-most FP to DLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL1.4 ptsSchedule edge +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Ryan Nugent-Hopkins or Sam Malinski in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins projects to 1.70 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Malinski's 1.44. Nugent-Hopkins had 56 points in 72 games; Malinski had 40 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, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins or Sam Malinski?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Sam Malinski leads in 17 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Nugent-Hopkins and Malinski done against each other?
- In 5 games against each other in our data, Nugent-Hopkins's team went 2–3. Nugent-Hopkins had 6 points (3 goals) and Malinski had 3 (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 →