Who to start · 2025-26
Brent Burns vs Ian Cole
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brent Burns projects to 1.38 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30.
Burns had 35 points in 82 games; Cole had 23 in 82 games.
This week Burns has 1 game left; Cole has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Cole for 1.5 ESPN points to Burns's 1.2.
Brent Burns has the better number in 25 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Burns's biggest edges: Goals above expected +5.6, Shots on goal 172, Hardest shot 95.0.
Cole's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 −0.019, Hits 73, Blocked shots 151.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brent Burns
1.38
fantasy points per game
Ian Cole
1.30
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Brent Burns has the edge.
| Points per game from | Burns | Cole |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.27 | 0.06 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.33 | 0.22 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.20 | 0.07 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.03 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.55 | 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: Burns vs Cole
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Burns 10G 19A, 89 SOG · Cole 1G 8A, 29 SOG
Burns blocked 1 of Cole's shots; Cole blocked 9 of Burns's.
On the ice against each other (Burns's side)
20:09 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Burns's side
- Shot attempts
- 27–21
- 56.3%
- Expected goals
- 1.0–0.4
- 70.8%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Burns | Cole |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-25 | COL 4–2 UTA | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-12-23 | COL 1–0 UTA | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-10-21 | COL 3–4 UTA | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-10-09 | COL 2–1 UTA | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-02-08 | CAR 7–3 UTA | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-11-13 | CAR 1–4 UTA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-02-06 | CAR 2–3 VAN | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-12-09 | CAR 3–4 VAN | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2023-03-05 | CAR 6–0 TBL | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-11-03 | CAR 4–3 TBL | 0G 1A 7S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-01-30 | SJS 1–2 CAR | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2021-11-22 | SJS 2–1 CAR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
Latest 12 of 34 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.
Brent Burns
2games (1 left)
1.2proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows 3rd-most FP to DLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL1.2 ptsSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
Ian Cole
3games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ VGKOpp allows 5th-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 8th-most FP to DSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.910)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Brent Burns or Ian Cole in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brent Burns projects to 1.38 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30. Burns had 35 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, Brent Burns or Ian Cole?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Brent Burns leads in 25 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Burns and Cole done against each other?
- In 34 games against each other in our data, Burns's team went 17–17. Burns had 29 points (10 goals) and Cole had 9 (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 →