Edgehalla

Who to start · 2025-26

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins vs Zach Hyman

Ryan Nugent-HopkinsRyan Nugent-HopkinsOilers · CentrevsZach HymanZach HymanOilers · Left wing

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Zach Hyman projects to 1.99 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins's 1.70.

Nugent-Hopkins had 56 points in 72 games; Hyman had 52 in 58 games.

This week Nugent-Hopkins has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Hyman has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Hyman for 1.5 ESPN points to Nugent-Hopkins's 1.1.

Zach Hyman has the better number in 25 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.

Nugent-Hopkins's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 172, Hardest shot 88.5, Blocked shots 31.

Hyman's biggest edges: Plus/minus +13, 20+ mph bursts 134, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.020.

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

Fantasy value: your scoring

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

1.70

fantasy points per game

Zach Hyman

2.09

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Zach Hyman has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromNugent-HopkinsHyman
Goals (+2)0.561.07
Assists (+1)0.500.36
Power-play points (+0.5)0.200.13
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.010.00
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.180.27
Hits (+0.1)0.030.10
Blocks (+0.5)0.220.16

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 Hyman

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-HopkinsHyman
4Team record in 15 meetings11
7Points in those games11

Nugent-Hopkins 3G 4A, 33 SOG · Hyman 5G 6A, 37 SOG

3Faceoffs against each other0

Nugent-Hopkins's offensive zone 2–0 · neutral 1–0 · Nugent-Hopkins's defensive zone 0–0 (2017-18 to 2020-21)

0Hits on each other1
0Shots blocked by the other10

Nugent-Hopkins blocked 0 of Hyman's shots; Hyman blocked 10 of Nugent-Hopkins's.

29Goals set up by the other54

Goals each scored with the other picking up an assist (as teammates).

On the ice together

508:42 at 5-on-5 over 53 games, 2025-26

Shot attempts
541–538
50.1%
Expected goals
30.1–26.4
53.3%
Goals
30–28

Games against each other

Games between Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Zach Hyman
DateScoreNugent-HopkinsHyman
2021-03-29EDM 3–2 TOR0G 1A 1S0G 1A 2S
2021-03-27EDM 3–4 TOR0G 0A 0S0G 0A 4S
2021-03-03EDM 1–6 TOR1G 0A 3S1G 1A 5S
2021-03-01EDM 0–3 TOR0G 0A 2S1G 0A 1S
2021-02-27EDM 0–4 TOR0G 0A 2S1G 0A 4S
2021-01-30EDM 4–3 TOR0G 0A 3S1G 0A 5S
2021-01-28EDM 3–4 TOR0G 0A 0S0G 0A 1S
2021-01-22EDM 2–4 TOR0G 1A 3S0G 0A 3S
2021-01-20EDM 3–1 TOR0G 1A 2S0G 1A 0S
2020-01-06EDM 6–4 TOR0G 1A 1S0G 0A 1S
2019-12-14EDM 1–4 TOR0G 0A 2S0G 1A 4S
2019-03-09EDM 2–3 TOR1G 0A 3S0G 1A 1S

Latest 12 of 15 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.

Nugent-HopkinsHyman

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 Nugent-Hopkins

3games (1 left)

1.1proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 vs VAN
    Opp allows 4th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
  • Thu, Oct 1 @ VAN
    Opp allows 4th-most FP to CLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.1 pts
    Opp allows 6th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)

Zach Hyman

3games (1 left)

1.5proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 vs VAN
    Opp allows 5th-most FP to LWLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
  • Thu, Oct 1 @ VAN
    Opp allows 5th-most FP to LWLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.5 pts
    Opp allows 5th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Ryan Nugent-Hopkins or Zach Hyman in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Zach Hyman projects to 1.99 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ryan Nugent-Hopkins's 1.70. Nugent-Hopkins had 56 points in 72 games; Hyman had 52 in 58 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 Zach Hyman?
On 2025-26 numbers, Zach Hyman leads in 25 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 Hyman done against each other?
In 15 games against each other in our data, Nugent-Hopkins's team went 4–11. Nugent-Hopkins had 7 points (3 goals) and Hyman had 11 (5 goals).
Who wins more faceoffs, Nugent-Hopkins or Hyman?
Against each other, Nugent-Hopkins has won 3 and Hyman 0 of their 3 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 →