Who to start · 2025-26
Alexander Wennberg vs Noah Cates
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Alexander Wennberg projects to 1.69 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33.
Wennberg had 55 points in 80 games; Cates had 47 in 82 games.
This week Wennberg has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Cates has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Wennberg for 1.6 ESPN points to Cates's 1.5.
Alexander Wennberg has the better number in 20 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Wennberg's biggest edges: Ascension score 51, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.37, Hardest shot 89.2.
Cates's biggest edges: Plus/minus +26, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.031, On-ice PDO 1026.
Head to head on the dot, Wennberg leads Cates 12–11.
- • 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, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Alexander Wennberg
1.69
fantasy points per game
Noah Cates
1.33
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Alexander Wennberg has the edge.
| Points per game from | Wennberg | Cates |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.42 | 0.39 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.43 | 0.31 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.09 | 0.05 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.13 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.11 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.58 | 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: Wennberg vs Cates
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2022-23 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Wennberg 0G 3A, 9 SOG · Cates 3G 3A, 13 SOG
Wennberg's offensive zone 6–4 · neutral 3–4 · Wennberg's defensive zone 3–3 (2022-23 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Wennberg's side)
6:58 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Wennberg's side
- Shot attempts
- 8–5
- 61.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.1
- 76.4%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Wennberg | Cates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-21 | SJS 1–4 PHI | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2025-12-09 | SJS 1–4 PHI | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2024-12-31 | SJS 0–4 PHI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-11-11 | SJS 3–4 PHI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-04-11 | NYR 1–4 PHI | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2024-02-10 | SEA 2–3 PHI | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-02-16 | SEA 6–2 PHI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2023-02-12 | SEA 4–3 PHI | 0G 2A 1S | 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.
Alexander Wennberg
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs FLAOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Akira Schmid (.892)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs LAK1.6 ptsOpp allows the most FP to CSchedule edge +3.3 win%Likely vs Anton Forsberg (.910)
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 Alexander Wennberg or Noah Cates in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Alexander Wennberg projects to 1.69 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33. Wennberg had 55 points in 80 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, Alexander Wennberg or Noah Cates?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Alexander Wennberg leads in 20 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Wennberg and Cates done against each other?
- In 8 games against each other in our data, Wennberg's team went 2–6. Wennberg had 3 points (0 goals) and Cates had 6 (3 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Wennberg or Cates?
- Against each other, Wennberg has won 12 and Cates 11 of their 23 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 →