Who to start · 2025-26
Tomas Hertl 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 Tomas Hertl's 1.88.
Hertl had 58 points in 82 games; Smith had 59 in 69 games.
This week Hertl has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Smith has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Hertl for 2.0 ESPN points to Smith's 1.9.
They split the 34 stats both are ranked on 16–16.
Hertl's biggest edges: High-danger chances 59.2%, Blocked shots 45, Hits 114.
Smith's biggest edges: On-ice PDO 1033, Goals above expected +2.0, Luck Meter +40.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 9 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Tomas Hertl
1.88
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 | Hertl | Smith |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.63 | 0.90 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.37 | 0.54 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.17 | 0.15 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.27 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.14 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.30 | 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: Hertl 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.
Hertl 3G 3A, 13 SOG · Smith 3G 1A, 12 SOG
Hertl's offensive zone 1–0 · neutral 0–0 · Hertl's defensive zone 1–0 (2024-25)
On the ice against each other (Hertl's side)
4:21 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Hertl's side
- Shot attempts
- 9–4
- 69.2%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.4
- 46.8%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Hertl | Smith |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-29 | VGK 4–3 SJS | 2G 0A 3S | 2G 0A 4S |
| 2025-10-09 | VGK 4–3 SJS | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-01-07 | VGK 4–2 SJS | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-12-27 | VGK 6–3 SJS | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2024-10-26 | VGK 7–3 SJS | 0G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 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.
Tomas Hertl
3games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs CHIOpp allows 8th-most FP to C
- Fri, Oct 2 vs ANAOpp allows 9th-most FP to C
- Sun, Oct 4 @ VAN2.0 ptsOpp allows 6th-most FP to C
Will Smith
2games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs FLAOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to C
- Sat, Oct 3 vs LAK1.9 ptsOpp allows the most FP to C
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Tomas Hertl 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 Tomas Hertl's 1.88. Hertl had 58 points in 82 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, Tomas Hertl or Will Smith?
- On 2025-26 numbers they split 16–16 across 34 stats where both qualify.
- How have Hertl and Smith done against each other?
- In 5 games against each other in our data, Hertl's team went 5–0. Hertl had 6 points (3 goals) and Smith had 4 (3 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Hertl or Smith?
- Against each other, Hertl has won 2 and Smith 0 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 →