Who to start · 2025-26
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins vs Sean Walker
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins projects to 1.70 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sean Walker's 1.62.
Nugent-Hopkins had 56 points in 72 games; Walker had 31 in 81 games.
This week Nugent-Hopkins has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Walker has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Walker for 1.9 ESPN points to Nugent-Hopkins's 1.1.
Sean Walker has the better number in 19 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Nugent-Hopkins's biggest edges: Goals above expected +2.6, Power-play points 29, Power-play share 86.6%.
Walker's biggest edges: Hits 141, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.038, 20+ mph bursts 106.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
1.70
fantasy points per game
Sean Walker
1.68
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has the edge.
| Points per game from | Nugent-Hopkins | Walker |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.56 | 0.22 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.27 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.20 | 0.01 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.22 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.03 | 0.17 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.77 |
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 Walker
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2018-19 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Nugent-Hopkins 7G 4A, 35 SOG · Walker 3G 2A, 32 SOG
Nugent-Hopkins blocked 0 of Walker's shots; Walker blocked 2 of Nugent-Hopkins's.
On the ice against each other (Nugent-Hopkins's side)
4:18 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Nugent-Hopkins's side
- Shot attempts
- 1–7
- 12.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.0–0.2
- 0.0%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Nugent-Hopkins | Walker |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-06 | EDM 3–6 CAR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-03-01 | EDM 3–1 CAR | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-10-22 | EDM 2–3 CAR | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-04-05 | EDM 6–2 COL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-03-16 | EDM 2–3 COL | 0G 0A 3S | 2G 0A 3S |
| 2024-01-02 | EDM 5–2 PHI | 2G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-10-19 | EDM 1–4 PHI | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2023-04-29 · PO | EDM 5–4 LAK | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-04-25 · PO | EDM 6–3 LAK | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-04-04 | EDM 3–1 LAK | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-01-09 | EDM 3–6 LAK | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-11-16 | EDM 1–3 LAK | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 17 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)
Sean Walker
3games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs FLAOpp allows 15th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Jacob Markstrom (.883)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs WSHOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Logan Thompson (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ PHIB2B1.9 ptsOpp allows 2nd-most FP to DSchedule edge −12.8 win%Likely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Ryan Nugent-Hopkins or Sean Walker 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 Sean Walker's 1.62. Nugent-Hopkins had 56 points in 72 games; Walker had 31 in 81 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 Sean Walker?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Sean Walker leads in 19 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 Walker done against each other?
- In 17 games against each other in our data, Nugent-Hopkins's team went 9–8. Nugent-Hopkins had 11 points (7 goals) and Walker had 5 (3 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 →