Who to start · 2025-26
Brandon Hagel 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 Brandon Hagel's 2.15.
Hagel had 74 points in 71 games; Caufield had 88 in 81 games.
This week Hagel has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Caufield has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Hagel for 1.8 ESPN points to Caufield's 1.6.
Brandon Hagel has the better number in 19 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Hagel's biggest edges: Ascension score 58, Penalty minutes 58, High-danger chances 59.0%.
Caufield's biggest edges: Goals above expected +8.1, Luck Meter +66, Offensive-zone time 46.2%.
- • 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
Brandon Hagel
2.15
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 | Hagel | Caufield |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.95 | 1.18 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.43 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.07 | 0.17 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.30 | 0.32 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.06 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.25 | 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: Hagel vs Caufield
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.
Hagel 11G 10A, 52 SOG · Caufield 5G 8A, 60 SOG
Hagel blocked 1 of Caufield's shots; Caufield blocked 1 of Hagel's.
On the ice against each other (Hagel's side)
65:58 at 5-on-5 over 10 games, 2025-26, from Hagel's side
- Shot attempts
- 71–50
- 58.7%
- Expected goals
- 3.3–2.0
- 62.3%
- Goals
- 7–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Hagel | Caufield |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-03 · PO | TBL 1–2 MTL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-05-01 · PO | TBL 1–0 MTL | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2026-04-29 · PO | TBL 2–3 MTL | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-04-26 · PO | TBL 3–2 MTL | 2G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2026-04-24 · PO | TBL 2–3 MTL | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-04-21 · PO | TBL 3–2 MTL | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2026-04-19 · PO | TBL 3–4 MTL | 2G 0A 3S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2026-03-31 | TBL 1–4 MTL | 0G 0A 5S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2025-12-28 | TBL 5–4 MTL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-12-09 | TBL 6–1 MTL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-02-09 | TBL 5–3 MTL | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2025-01-21 | TBL 2–3 MTL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
Latest 12 of 22 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.
Brandon Hagel
2games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 7th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH1.8 ptsOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to LWSchedule 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 Brandon Hagel 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 Brandon Hagel's 2.15. Hagel had 74 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, Brandon Hagel or Cole Caufield?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Brandon Hagel leads in 19 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Hagel and Caufield done against each other?
- In 22 games against each other in our data, Hagel's team went 14–8. Hagel had 21 points (11 goals) and Caufield had 13 (5 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 →