Who to start · 2025-26
Alex DeBrincat vs Cole Caufield
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Cole Caufield projects to 2.29 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Alex DeBrincat's 2.20.
DeBrincat had 85 points in 82 games; Caufield had 88 in 81 games.
This week DeBrincat has 1 game left; Caufield has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project DeBrincat for 1.9 ESPN points to Caufield's 1.6.
Cole Caufield has the better number in 19 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
DeBrincat's biggest edges: Blocked shots 39, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.060, Faceoffs won 19.
Caufield's biggest edges: Goals above expected +7.8, Offensive-zone start % 62.5%, Luck Meter +67.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Alex DeBrincat
2.20
fantasy points per game
Cole Caufield
2.29
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Cole Caufield has the edge.
| Points per game from | DeBrincat | Caufield |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.94 | 1.18 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.43 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.13 | 0.17 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.33 | 0.32 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.12 |
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: DeBrincat vs Caufield
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
DeBrincat 5G 11A, 54 SOG · Caufield 3G 4A, 48 SOG
On the ice against each other (DeBrincat's side)
8:38 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from DeBrincat's side
- Shot attempts
- 10–16
- 38.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.7
- 44.9%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | DeBrincat | Caufield |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-19 | DET 3–1 MTL | 1G 2A 4S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2026-01-10 | DET 4–0 MTL | 1G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2025-10-09 | DET 1–5 MTL | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-04-08 | DET 1–4 MTL | 0G 0A 6S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-01-23 | DET 4–2 MTL | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-12-21 | DET 1–5 MTL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-12-20 | DET 3–4 MTL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2024-04-16 | DET 5–4 MTL | 0G 0A 7S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2024-04-15 | DET 5–4 MTL | 1G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2023-12-02 | DET 5–4 MTL | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2023-11-09 | DET 2–3 MTL | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2022-12-14 | OTT 3–2 MTL | 0G 3A 5S | 0G 0A 4S |
Latest 12 of 14 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.
Alex DeBrincat
2games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs NYROpp allows 13th-most FP to RWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Dylan Garand (.948)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs WPG1.9 ptsLikely vs Stuart Skinner (.888)
Cole Caufield
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ TOROpp allows 11th-most FP to RWLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ PIT1.6 ptsOpp allows the fewest FP to RWLikely vs Arturs Silovs (.888)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Alex DeBrincat or Cole Caufield in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Cole Caufield projects to 2.29 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Alex DeBrincat's 2.20. DeBrincat had 85 points in 82 games; Caufield had 88 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, Alex DeBrincat or Cole Caufield?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Cole Caufield leads in 19 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have DeBrincat and Caufield done against each other?
- In 14 games against each other in our data, DeBrincat's team went 9–5. DeBrincat had 16 points (5 goals) and Caufield had 7 (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 →