Who to start · 2025-26
Will Smith vs Zach Hyman
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Zach Hyman projects to 1.99 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Will Smith's 1.94.
Smith had 59 points in 69 games; Hyman had 52 in 58 games.
This week Smith has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Hyman has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Smith for 1.9 ESPN points to Hyman's 1.5.
Zach Hyman has the better number in 20 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Smith's biggest edges: Hardest shot 90.3, Ascension score 64, Faceoffs won 15.
Hyman's biggest edges: High-danger chances 57.9%, Top skating speed 23.1, Expected goals 55.6%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Will Smith
1.94
fantasy points per game
Zach Hyman
1.99
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Zach Hyman has the edge.
| Points per game from | Smith | Hyman |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.90 | 1.00 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.54 | 0.34 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.15 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.24 | 0.28 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.03 | 0.10 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.08 | 0.15 |
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 Hyman
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 1G 2A, 10 SOG · Hyman 3G 0A, 14 SOG
On the ice against each other (Smith's side)
18:03 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Smith's side
- Shot attempts
- 18–6
- 75.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.9–0.3
- 77.8%
- Goals
- 2–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Smith | Hyman |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-17 | SJS 3–5 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2026-02-28 | SJS 5–4 EDM | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-01-29 | SJS 3–4 EDM | 0G 1A 4S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-04-11 | SJS 2–4 EDM | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-04-03 | SJS 2–3 EDM | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-12-21 | SJS 2–3 EDM | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 4S |
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)
Zach Hyman
3games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VANOpp allows 5th-most FP to LWLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 5th-most FP to LWLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.5 ptsOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Will Smith or Zach Hyman in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Zach Hyman projects to 1.99 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Will Smith's 1.94. Smith had 59 points in 69 games; Hyman had 52 in 58 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 Zach Hyman?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Zach Hyman leads in 20 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 Hyman done against each other?
- In 6 games against each other in our data, Smith's team went 1–5. Smith had 3 points (1 goals) and Hyman had 3 (3 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 →