Who to start · 2025-26
Bowen Byram vs Ian Cole
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Bowen Byram projects to 1.37 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30.
Byram had 42 points in 82 games; Cole had 23 in 82 games.
This week Byram has 1 game left; Cole has 1 left. We project Byram for 2.0 ESPN points to Cole's 1.5.
They split the 34 stats both are ranked on 16–16.
Byram's biggest edges: Ascension score 59, 20+ mph bursts 107, Power-play time per game 1:35.
Cole's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.39, High-danger chances 56.7%, Blocked shots 151.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Bowen Byram
1.37
fantasy points per game
Ian Cole
1.30
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Bowen Byram has the edge.
| Points per game from | Byram | Cole |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.24 | 0.06 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.33 | 0.22 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.04 | 0.00 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.12 | 0.07 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.59 | 0.87 |
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: Byram vs Cole
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.
Byram 0G 3A, 15 SOG · Cole 0G 0A, 20 SOG
Byram blocked 0 of Cole's shots; Cole blocked 1 of Byram's.
On the ice against each other (Byram's side)
14:28 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Byram's side
- Shot attempts
- 12–8
- 60.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.8–0.3
- 73.6%
- Goals
- 2–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Byram | Cole |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-12 | BUF 2–5 UTA | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-11-04 | BUF 1–2 UTA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-03-20 | BUF 2–5 UTA | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-12-07 | BUF 2–5 UTA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-03-19 | BUF 2–3 VAN | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-02-20 | COL 3–1 VAN | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-11-22 | COL 5–2 VAN | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-02-14 | COL 3–4 TBL | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-02-09 | COL 0–5 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2022-04-16 | COL 7–4 CAR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2021-03-20 | COL 6–0 MIN | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2021-03-18 | COL 5–1 MIN | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
Latest 12 of 16 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.
Bowen Byram
3games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ VGKOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Carter Hart (.891)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ UTAOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to DLikely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ BUF2.0 ptsOpp allows 11th-most FP to DSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.910)
Ian Cole
3games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ VGKOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Carter Hart (.891)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ UTAOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to DLikely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ BUF1.5 ptsOpp allows 11th-most FP to DSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.910)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Bowen Byram or Ian Cole in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Bowen Byram projects to 1.37 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30. Byram had 42 points in 82 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, Bowen Byram or Ian Cole?
- On 2025-26 numbers they split 16–16 across 34 stats where both qualify.
- How have Byram and Cole done against each other?
- In 16 games against each other in our data, Byram's team went 7–9. Byram had 3 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 →