Who to start · 2025-26
Alex DeBrincat vs Noah Cates
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Alex DeBrincat projects to 2.20 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33.
DeBrincat had 85 points in 82 games; Cates had 47 in 82 games.
This week DeBrincat has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Cates has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project DeBrincat for 2.3 ESPN points to Cates's 1.5.
Alex DeBrincat has the better number in 21 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
DeBrincat's biggest edges: 20+ mph bursts 115, Transition attempts /60 1.78, Hardest shot 88.1.
Cates's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 44, Faceoffs won 467, Hits 102.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Alex DeBrincat
2.20
fantasy points per game
Noah Cates
1.33
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Alex DeBrincat has the edge.
| Points per game from | DeBrincat | Cates |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.94 | 0.39 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.31 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.13 | 0.05 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.33 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.11 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.30 |
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 Cates
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 9G 0A, 39 SOG · Cates 3G 1A, 14 SOG
DeBrincat's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 0–0 · DeBrincat's defensive zone 0–1 (2023-24)
DeBrincat blocked 0 of Cates's shots; Cates blocked 1 of DeBrincat's.
On the ice against each other (DeBrincat's side)
6:47 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from DeBrincat's side
- Shot attempts
- 5–4
- 55.6%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.2
- 32.5%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | DeBrincat | Cates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-09 | DET 6–3 PHI | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-04-02 | DET 4–2 PHI | 2G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2026-03-28 | DET 3–5 PHI | 1G 0A 8S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-01-21 | DET 1–2 PHI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-12-18 | DET 6–4 PHI | 1G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2024-12-12 | DET 1–4 PHI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-01-25 | DET 3–0 PHI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-03-30 | OTT 5–4 PHI | 1G 0A 5S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2022-11-12 | OTT 4–1 PHI | 2G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-11-05 | OTT 1–2 PHI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-04-25 | CHI 3–1 PHI | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
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)
2.3proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs NYROpp allows 12th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Dylan Garand (.948)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs WPG2.3 ptsOpp allows 7th-most FP to RWLikely vs Stuart Skinner (.888)
Noah Cates
3games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs PITOpp allows the fewest FP to LWLikely vs Arturs Silovs (.888)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NJDB2BOpp allows 9th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Jake Allen (.904)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CAR1.5 ptsOpp allows 9th-most FP to LWSchedule edge +12.9 win%Likely vs Pyotr Kochetkov (.899)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Alex DeBrincat or Noah Cates in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Alex DeBrincat projects to 2.20 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33. DeBrincat had 85 points in 82 games; Cates had 47 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, Alex DeBrincat or Noah Cates?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Alex DeBrincat leads in 21 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 Cates done against each other?
- In 11 games against each other in our data, DeBrincat's team went 7–4. DeBrincat had 9 points (9 goals) and Cates had 4 (3 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, DeBrincat or Cates?
- Against each other, DeBrincat has won 0 and Cates 1 of their 1 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 →