Who to start · 2025-26
Will Smith vs William Nylander
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, William Nylander projects to 2.36 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Will Smith's 1.94.
Smith had 59 points in 69 games; Nylander had 79 in 65 games.
This week Smith has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Nylander has 1 left. We project Nylander for 2.1 ESPN points to Smith's 1.9.
William Nylander has the better number in 17 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Smith's biggest edges: Ascension score 64, Plus/minus +1, Scoring chances 50.4%.
Nylander's biggest edges: Top skating speed 23.5, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.036, Blocked shots 26.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Will Smith
1.94
fantasy points per game
William Nylander
2.36
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, William Nylander has the edge.
| Points per game from | Smith | Nylander |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.90 | 1.05 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.54 | 0.67 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.15 | 0.14 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.24 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.03 | 0.02 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.08 | 0.24 |
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: Smith vs Nylander
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.
Smith 0G 0A, 9 SOG · Nylander 2G 4A, 15 SOG
On the ice against each other (Smith's side)
7:01 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Smith's side
- Shot attempts
- 7–7
- 50.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.3
- 56.4%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Smith | Nylander |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-02 | SJS 4–1 TOR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-12-11 | SJS 3–2 TOR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2025-03-27 | SJS 6–5 TOR | 0G 0A 1S | 2G 0A 3S |
| 2025-03-03 | SJS 3–2 TOR | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 1A 6S |
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.
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)
William Nylander
3games (1 left)
2.1proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs MTLOpp allows 12th-most FP to RWLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
- Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2BOpp allows 14th-most FP to RWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT2.1 ptsLikely vs Linus Ullmark (.891)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Will Smith or William Nylander in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, William Nylander projects to 2.36 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Will Smith's 1.94. Smith had 59 points in 69 games; Nylander had 79 in 65 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, Will Smith or William Nylander?
- On 2025-26 numbers, William Nylander leads in 17 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Smith and Nylander done against each other?
- In 4 games against each other in our data, Smith's team went 4–0. Smith had 0 points (0 goals) and Nylander had 6 (2 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 →