Who to start · 2025-26
Adrian Kempe vs Ian Cole
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Adrian Kempe projects to 2.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30.
Kempe had 73 points in 81 games; Cole had 23 in 82 games.
This week Kempe has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Cole has 1 left. We project Kempe for 1.6 ESPN points to Cole's 1.5.
Adrian Kempe has the better number in 25 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Kempe's biggest edges: Hardest shot 95.3, 20+ mph bursts 224, Power-play time per game 2:58.
Cole's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.39, High-danger chances 56.7%, Faceoffs won 0.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Adrian Kempe
2.01
fantasy points per game
Ian Cole
1.30
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Adrian Kempe has the edge.
| Points per game from | Kempe | Cole |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.83 | 0.06 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.43 | 0.22 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.07 | 0.00 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.28 | 0.07 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.16 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.23 | 0.87 |
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: Kempe vs Cole
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Kempe 9G 8A, 51 SOG · Cole 0G 6A, 24 SOG
Kempe blocked 1 of Cole's shots; Cole blocked 1 of Kempe's.
On the ice against each other (Kempe's side)
10:23 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Kempe's side
- Shot attempts
- 10–16
- 38.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.9
- 26.6%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Kempe | Cole |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-28 | LAK 2–6 UTA | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2026-03-22 | LAK 3–4 UTA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-12-08 | LAK 4–2 UTA | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-04-03 | LAK 4–2 UTA | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-02-22 | LAK 5–3 UTA | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-10-26 | LAK 3–2 UTA | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-04-06 | LAK 6–3 VAN | 2G 1A 5S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-03-25 | LAK 3–2 VAN | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-01-28 | LAK 2–5 TBL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-10-25 | LAK 4–2 TBL | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2021-11-20 | LAK 4–5 CAR | 2G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2021-02-27 | LAK 3–4 MIN | 1G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 0S |
Latest 12 of 24 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.
Adrian Kempe
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ COLOpp allows 10th-most FP to RWLikely vs Mackenzie Blackwood (.903)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ SJS1.6 ptsOpp allows 7th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge −3.2 win%Likely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)
Ian Cole
3games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ VGKOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Carter Hart (.891)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ UTAOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to DLikely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ BUF1.5 ptsOpp allows 11th-most FP to DSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.910)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Adrian Kempe or Ian Cole in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Adrian Kempe projects to 2.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30. Kempe had 73 points in 81 games; Cole had 23 in 82 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, Adrian Kempe or Ian Cole?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Adrian Kempe leads in 25 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Kempe and Cole done against each other?
- In 24 games against each other in our data, Kempe's team went 12–12. Kempe had 17 points (9 goals) and Cole had 6 (0 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 →