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Who to start · 2025-26

Alexander Nikishin vs Ian Cole

Alexander NikishinAlexander NikishinHurricanes · DefencevsIan ColeIan ColeBlackhawks · Defence

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Alexander Nikishin projects to 1.50 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30.

Nikishin had 33 points in 81 games; Cole had 23 in 82 games.

This week Nikishin has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Cole has 1 left. We project Nikishin for 1.7 ESPN points to Cole's 1.5.

Alexander Nikishin has the better number in 24 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.

Nikishin's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 47.3%, Hardest shot 99.4, Power-play time per game 1:26.

Cole's biggest edges: Blocked shots 151, Penalty minutes 50, Transition attempts /60 0.50.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Alexander Nikishin

1.50

fantasy points per game

Ian Cole

1.41

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Alexander Nikishin has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromNikishinCole
Goals (+2)0.270.07
Assists (+1)0.270.24
Power-play points (+0.5)0.060.00
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.010.01
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.150.08
Hits (+0.1)0.160.09
Blocks (+0.5)0.580.92

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: Nikishin vs Cole

Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2025-26 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.

NikishinCole
2Team record in 2 meetings0
0Points in those games0

Nikishin 0G 0A, 2 SOG · Cole 0G 0A, 3 SOG

On the ice against each other (Nikishin's side)

10:04 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Nikishin's side

Shot attempts
12–9
57.1%
Expected goals
0.8–0.5
60.8%
Goals
0–0

Games against each other

Games between Alexander Nikishin and Ian Cole
DateScoreNikishinCole
2026-04-11CAR 4–1 UTA0G 0A 0S0G 0A 1S
2026-01-29CAR 5–4 UTA0G 0A 2S0G 0A 2S

Every stat, side by side

Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.

NikishinCole

Fantasy box score

Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

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.

Alexander Nikishin

3games (1 left)

1.7proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 vs FLA
    Opp allows 15th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Jacob Markstrom (.883)
  • Fri, Oct 2 vs WSH
    Opp allows 5th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Logan Thompson (.912)
  • Sat, Oct 3 @ PHIB2B1.7 pts
    Opp allows 2nd-most FP to DSchedule edge −8.7 win%vs Joseph Woll (.899)

Ian Cole

3games (1 left)

1.5proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 @ VGK
    Opp allows 12th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Carter Hart (.891)
  • Thu, Oct 1 @ UTA
    Opp allows 2nd-fewest FP to DLikely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
  • Sat, Oct 3 @ BUF1.5 pts
    Opp allows 11th-most FP to DSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.910)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Alexander Nikishin or Ian Cole in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Alexander Nikishin projects to 1.50 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30. Nikishin had 33 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, Alexander Nikishin or Ian Cole?
On 2025-26 numbers, Alexander Nikishin leads in 24 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
How have Nikishin and Cole done against each other?
In 2 games against each other in our data, Nikishin's team went 2–0. Nikishin had 0 points (0 goals) and Cole had 0 (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 →