Who to start · 2025-26
Sam Bennett vs Will Smith
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Will Smith projects to 1.94 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Bennett's 1.74.
Bennett had 58 points in 76 games; Smith had 59 in 69 games.
This week Bennett has 1 game left; Smith has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Smith for 1.9 ESPN points to Bennett's 1.6.
Sam Bennett has the better number in 20 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Bennett's biggest edges: Hits 115, Penalty minutes 82, High-danger chances 52.2%.
Smith's biggest edges: Ascension score 64, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.10, Transition attempts /60 2.05.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Sam Bennett
1.74
fantasy points per game
Will Smith
1.94
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Will Smith has the edge.
| Points per game from | Bennett | Smith |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.60 | 0.90 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.43 | 0.54 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.09 | 0.15 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.19 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.19 | 0.08 |
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: Bennett vs Smith
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2024-25 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Bennett 1G 1A, 12 SOG · Smith 4G 3A, 9 SOG
Bennett's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 0–1 · Bennett's defensive zone 1–1 (2024-25)
On the ice against each other (Bennett's side)
9:21 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27, from Bennett's side
- Shot attempts
- 12–9
- 57.1%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–1.0
- 17.0%
- Goals
- 0–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Bennett | Smith |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-01 | FLA 3–4 SJS | 0G 1A 1S | 2G 1A 3S |
| 2026-01-19 | FLA 1–4 SJS | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2025-11-08 | FLA 1–3 SJS | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2025-01-25 | FLA 7–2 SJS | 1G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 3S |
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.
Sam Bennett
3games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ CAROpp allows 5th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ SJSOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ ANA1.6 ptsLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
Will Smith
2games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs FLAOpp allows 9th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Akira Schmid (.892)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs LAK1.9 ptsOpp allows the most FP to CSchedule edge +3.3 win%Likely vs Anton Forsberg (.910)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Sam Bennett 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 Sam Bennett's 1.74. Bennett had 58 points in 76 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, Sam Bennett or Will Smith?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Sam Bennett leads in 20 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Bennett and Smith done against each other?
- In 4 games against each other in our data, Bennett's team went 1–3. Bennett had 2 points (1 goals) and Smith had 7 (4 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Bennett or Smith?
- Against each other, Bennett has won 1 and Smith 2 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 →