Who to start · 2025-26
Sam Bennett vs Zach Werenski
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Zach Werenski projects to 2.59 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Bennett's 1.74.
Bennett had 58 points in 76 games; Werenski had 81 in 75 games.
This week Bennett has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Werenski has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Bennett for 1.9 ESPN points to Werenski's 1.9.
Zach Werenski has the better number in 23 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Bennett's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 82, Hits 115, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.018.
Werenski's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.09, Transition attempts /60 1.01, Top skating speed 23.1.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 1 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Sam Bennett
1.74
fantasy points per game
Zach Werenski
2.59
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Zach Werenski has the edge.
| Points per game from | Bennett | Werenski |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.60 | 0.55 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.43 | 0.86 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.09 | 0.16 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.34 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.19 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.19 | 0.62 |
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 Werenski
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.
Bennett 4G 8A, 42 SOG · Werenski 1G 2A, 56 SOG
Bennett blocked 0 of Werenski's shots; Werenski blocked 1 of Bennett's.
On the ice against each other (Bennett's side)
8:48 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Bennett's side
- Shot attempts
- 8–12
- 40.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.7
- 41.4%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Bennett | Werenski |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-12 | FLA 2–1 CBJ | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2025-12-06 | FLA 7–6 CBJ | 1G 3A 3S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2025-03-20 | FLA 1–0 CBJ | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2025-03-06 | FLA 3–0 CBJ | 0G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-10-15 | FLA 4–3 CBJ | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 7S |
| 2024-04-11 | FLA 4–0 CBJ | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-12-10 | FLA 5–2 CBJ | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2022-01-31 | FLA 8–4 CBJ | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2022-01-15 | FLA 9–2 CBJ | 1G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2020-03-04 | CGY 3–2 CBJ | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2019-11-02 | CGY 3–0 CBJ | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 7S |
| 2018-12-04 | CGY 9–6 CBJ | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 3S |
Latest 12 of 14 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.
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)
Zach Werenski
2games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs BUFOpp allows 11th-most FP to DLikely vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.910)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs UTA1.9 ptsOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to DLikely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Sam Bennett or Zach Werenski in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Zach Werenski projects to 2.59 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Bennett's 1.74. Bennett had 58 points in 76 games; Werenski had 81 in 75 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 Zach Werenski?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Zach Werenski leads in 23 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 Werenski done against each other?
- In 14 games against each other in our data, Bennett's team went 12–2. Bennett had 12 points (4 goals) and Werenski 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 →