Who to start · 2025-26
Anthony Cirelli 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 Anthony Cirelli's 1.67.
Cirelli had 52 points in 71 games; Caufield had 88 in 81 games.
This week Cirelli has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Caufield has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Caufield for 1.6 ESPN points to Cirelli's 1.2.
Cole Caufield has the better number in 18 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Cirelli's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 518, Ascension score 55, Penalty minutes 48.
Caufield's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.65, Offensive-zone time 46.2%, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.37.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Anthony Cirelli
1.67
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 | Cirelli | Caufield |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.61 | 1.18 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 0.43 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.17 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.32 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.37 | 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: Cirelli vs Caufield
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2020-21 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Cirelli 5G 10A, 36 SOG · Caufield 6G 10A, 69 SOG
Cirelli's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 0–1 · Cirelli's defensive zone 0–0 (2023-24)
Cirelli blocked 0 of Caufield's shots; Caufield blocked 1 of Cirelli's.
On the ice against each other (Cirelli's side)
77:22 at 5-on-5 over 11 games, 2025-26, from Cirelli's side
- Shot attempts
- 68–63
- 51.9%
- Expected goals
- 3.0–2.4
- 55.9%
- Goals
- 6–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cirelli | Caufield |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-03 · PO | TBL 1–2 MTL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-05-01 · PO | TBL 1–0 MTL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2026-04-29 · PO | TBL 2–3 MTL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-04-26 · PO | TBL 3–2 MTL | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2026-04-24 · PO | TBL 2–3 MTL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-04-21 · PO | TBL 3–2 MTL | 0G 2A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2026-04-19 · PO | TBL 3–4 MTL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2026-04-09 | TBL 1–2 MTL | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2026-03-31 | TBL 1–4 MTL | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2025-12-28 | TBL 5–4 MTL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-12-09 | TBL 6–1 MTL | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-02-09 | TBL 5–3 MTL | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 5S |
Latest 12 of 27 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.
Anthony Cirelli
2games (1 left)
1.2proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 15th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH1.2 ptsOpp allows 9th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)
Cole Caufield
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ TOROpp allows 16th-most FP to RWLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ PIT1.6 ptsOpp allows the fewest FP to RWvs Arturs Silovs (.888)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Anthony Cirelli 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 Anthony Cirelli's 1.67. Cirelli had 52 points in 71 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, Anthony Cirelli or Cole Caufield?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Cole Caufield 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 Cirelli and Caufield done against each other?
- In 27 games against each other in our data, Cirelli's team went 17–10. Cirelli had 15 points (5 goals) and Caufield had 16 (6 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Cirelli or Caufield?
- Against each other, Cirelli has won 0 and Caufield 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 →