Who to start · 2025-26
Sidney Crosby vs Will Smith
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Sidney Crosby projects to 2.18 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Will Smith's 1.94.
Crosby had 74 points in 68 games; Smith had 59 in 69 games.
This week Crosby has 1 game left; Smith has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Crosby for 2.0 ESPN points to Smith's 1.9.
Sidney Crosby has the better number in 21 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Crosby's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 773, Penalty minutes 44, High-danger chances 51.4%.
Smith's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 2.05, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.10, On-ice PDO 1033.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Sidney Crosby
2.18
fantasy points per game
Will Smith
1.94
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Sidney Crosby has the edge.
| Points per game from | Crosby | Smith |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.80 | 0.90 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.68 | 0.54 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.16 | 0.15 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.24 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.10 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.21 | 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: Crosby vs Smith
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.
Crosby 4G 2A, 14 SOG · Smith 0G 2A, 8 SOG
Crosby's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 0–1 · Crosby's defensive zone 1–0 (2024-25)
On the ice against each other (Crosby's side)
6:46 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Crosby's side
- Shot attempts
- 3–7
- 30.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.0–0.5
- 1.5%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Crosby | Smith |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-13 | PIT 5–6 SJS | 1G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-10-18 | PIT 3–0 SJS | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-01-27 | PIT 1–2 SJS | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-11-16 | PIT 4–3 SJS | 1G 0A 6S | 0G 1A 2S |
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.
Sidney Crosby
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 7th-most FP to CLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL2.0 ptsOpp allows 14th-most FP to CLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Will Smith
2games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs FLAOpp allows 10th-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 Sidney Crosby or Will Smith in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Sidney Crosby projects to 2.18 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Will Smith's 1.94. Crosby had 74 points in 68 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, Sidney Crosby or Will Smith?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Sidney Crosby leads in 21 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Crosby and Smith done against each other?
- In 4 games against each other in our data, Crosby's team went 2–2. Crosby had 6 points (4 goals) and Smith had 2 (0 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Crosby or Smith?
- Against each other, Crosby has won 1 and Smith 1 of their 2 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 →