Who to start · 2025-26
Steven Stamkos vs Tage Thompson
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Tage Thompson projects to 2.26 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Steven Stamkos's 2.00.
Stamkos had 66 points in 82 games; Thompson had 81 in 81 games.
This week Stamkos has 1 game left; Thompson has 1 left. We project Thompson for 2.4 ESPN points to Stamkos's 2.1.
Tage Thompson has the better number in 19 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Stamkos's biggest edges: Goals above expected +5.9, Draw Equity /100 +0.085, Faceoff win % 57.7%.
Thompson's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.35, Plus/minus −6, Assists 41.
Head to head on the dot, Stamkos leads Thompson 12–6.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Steven Stamkos
2.00
fantasy points per game
Tage Thompson
2.26
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Tage Thompson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Stamkos | Thompson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.96 | 0.93 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.34 | 0.47 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.15 | 0.14 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.24 | 0.34 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.11 | 0.10 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.21 | 0.28 |
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: Stamkos vs Thompson
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.
Stamkos 6G 7A, 39 SOG · Thompson 10G 6A, 34 SOG
Stamkos's offensive zone 8–3 · neutral 3–2 · Stamkos's defensive zone 1–1 (2021-22 to 2025-26)
Stamkos blocked 1 of Thompson's shots; Thompson blocked 0 of Stamkos's.
On the ice against each other (Stamkos's side)
4:33 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Stamkos's side
- Shot attempts
- 6–5
- 54.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.4
- 21.8%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Stamkos | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-07 | NSH 2–3 BUF | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2026-01-20 | NSH 3–5 BUF | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2025-02-08 | NSH 6–4 BUF | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-01-31 | NSH 3–4 BUF | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-04-15 | TBL 2–4 BUF | 1G 0A 7S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-02-29 | TBL 2–3 BUF | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-01-20 | TBL 3–1 BUF | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-02-23 | TBL 5–6 BUF | 1G 1A 5S | 3G 0A 4S |
| 2023-03-04 | TBL 3–5 BUF | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2022-11-28 | TBL 6–5 BUF | 2G 1A 2S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2022-11-05 | TBL 5–3 BUF | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2022-04-10 | TBL 5–0 BUF | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
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.
Steven Stamkos
2games (1 left)
2.1proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs MIN
- Sat, Oct 3 vs DAL2.1 ptsSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Tage Thompson
2games (1 left)
2.4proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ CBJ
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CHI2.4 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Steven Stamkos or Tage Thompson in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Tage Thompson projects to 2.26 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Steven Stamkos's 2.00. Stamkos had 66 points in 82 games; Thompson had 81 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, Steven Stamkos or Tage Thompson?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Tage Thompson leads in 19 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Stamkos and Thompson done against each other?
- In 17 games against each other in our data, Stamkos's team went 8–9. Stamkos had 13 points (6 goals) and Thompson had 16 (10 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Stamkos or Thompson?
- Against each other, Stamkos has won 12 and Thompson 6 of their 18 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 →