Who to start · 2025-26
Brady Tkachuk vs Noah Cates
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brady Tkachuk projects to 2.16 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33.
Tkachuk had 59 points in 60 games; Cates had 47 in 82 games.
This week Tkachuk has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Cates has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Tkachuk for 2.3 ESPN points to Cates's 1.5.
Brady Tkachuk has the better number in 26 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Tkachuk's biggest edges: Hardest shot 92.3, Draw Equity /100 +0.101, Faceoff win % 57.6%.
Cates's biggest edges: On-ice PDO 1026, Blocked shots 51, Goals above expected −0.6.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brady Tkachuk
2.16
fantasy points per game
Noah Cates
1.33
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Brady Tkachuk has the edge.
| Points per game from | Tkachuk | Cates |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.65 | 0.39 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.54 | 0.31 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.15 | 0.05 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.35 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.29 | 0.11 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.17 | 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: Tkachuk vs Cates
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Tkachuk 5G 8A, 43 SOG · Cates 1G 1A, 6 SOG
Tkachuk's offensive zone 5–1 · neutral 0–0 · Tkachuk's defensive zone 1–1 (2022-23 to 2024-25)
Tkachuk blocked 0 of Cates's shots; Cates blocked 1 of Tkachuk's.
On the ice against each other (Tkachuk's side)
5:15 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Tkachuk's side
- Shot attempts
- 7–6
- 53.8%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.0
- 91.7%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Tkachuk | Cates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-05 | OTT 2–1 PHI | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-03-11 | OTT 5–2 PHI | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-11-14 | OTT 4–5 PHI | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-01-21 | OTT 5–3 PHI | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-10-14 | OTT 5–2 PHI | 2G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-03-30 | OTT 5–4 PHI | 0G 1A 8S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2022-11-12 | OTT 4–1 PHI | 0G 3A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-11-05 | OTT 1–2 PHI | 0G 1A 6S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-04-29 | OTT 4–2 PHI | 1G 1A 9S | 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.
Brady Tkachuk
3games (1 left)
2.3proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ CAROpp allows 9th-most FP to LWLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ SJSOpp allows 15th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ ANA2.3 ptsOpp allows 8th-most FP to LWLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
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 +9.0 win%Likely vs Pyotr Kochetkov (.899)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Brady Tkachuk or Noah Cates in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brady Tkachuk projects to 2.16 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33. Tkachuk had 59 points in 60 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, Brady Tkachuk or Noah Cates?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Brady Tkachuk leads in 26 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Tkachuk and Cates done against each other?
- In 9 games against each other in our data, Tkachuk's team went 7–2. Tkachuk had 13 points (5 goals) and Cates had 2 (1 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Tkachuk or Cates?
- Against each other, Tkachuk has won 6 and Cates 2 of their 8 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 →