Who to start · 2025-26
Aliaksei Protas vs Noah Cates
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Aliaksei Protas projects to 1.58 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33.
Protas had 52 points in 76 games; Cates had 47 in 82 games.
This week Protas has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Cates has 1 left. We project Protas for 1.8 ESPN points to Cates's 1.0.
Aliaksei Protas has the better number in 18 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Protas's biggest edges: 20+ mph bursts 168, Hardest shot 89.2, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.30.
Cates's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.031, Hits 102, Penalty minutes 44.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Aliaksei Protas
1.58
fantasy points per game
Noah Cates
1.33
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Aliaksei Protas has the edge.
| Points per game from | Protas | Cates |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.62 | 0.39 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.40 | 0.31 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.05 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.21 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.11 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.29 | 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: Protas 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.
Protas 2G 4A, 15 SOG · Cates 1G 2A, 8 SOG
On the ice against each other (Protas's side)
9:48 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Protas's side
- Shot attempts
- 9–10
- 47.4%
- Expected goals
- 0.7–1.4
- 31.7%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Protas | Cates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-11 | WSH 1–4 PHI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2026-02-25 | WSH 3–1 PHI | 1G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2026-02-03 | WSH 2–4 PHI | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-03-20 | WSH 3–2 PHI | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-02-06 | WSH 4–3 PHI | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-10-23 | WSH 6–3 PHI | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-10-22 | WSH 4–1 PHI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-04-16 | WSH 2–1 PHI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-03-01 | WSH 5–2 PHI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-12-07 | WSH 4–1 PHI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-11-23 | WSH 3–2 PHI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
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.
Aliaksei Protas
2games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ CAROpp allows 12th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TBLB2B1.8 ptsOpp allows 6th-most FP to LWSchedule edge −13.3 win%Likely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
Noah Cates
3games (1 left)
1.0proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs PITOpp allows the fewest FP to LWLikely vs Arturs Silovs (.888)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NJDB2BOpp allows 8th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Jake Allen (.904)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CAR1.0 ptsOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge +12.9 win%Likely vs Pyotr Kochetkov (.899)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Aliaksei Protas or Noah Cates in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Aliaksei Protas projects to 1.58 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33. Protas had 52 points in 76 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, Aliaksei Protas or Noah Cates?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Aliaksei Protas leads in 18 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Protas and Cates done against each other?
- In 11 games against each other in our data, Protas's team went 9–2. Protas had 6 points (2 goals) and Cates had 3 (1 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 →