Who to start · 2025-26
Brock Boeser vs Noah Cates
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brock Boeser projects to 1.68 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33.
Boeser had 48 points in 75 games; Cates had 47 in 82 games.
This week Boeser has 2 games left with 1 soft matchup; Cates has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Boeser for 3.1 ESPN points to Cates's 1.5.
Noah Cates has the better number in 23 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Boeser's biggest edges: Hardest shot 96.4, Ascension score 44, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.13.
Cates's biggest edges: Plus/minus +26, On-ice PDO 1026, Expected goals 53.9%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 2 A, 2 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brock Boeser
1.68
fantasy points per game
Noah Cates
1.33
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Brock Boeser has the edge.
| Points per game from | Boeser | Cates |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.64 | 0.39 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.42 | 0.31 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.17 | 0.05 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.21 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.11 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.15 | 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: Boeser vs Cates
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2022-23 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Boeser 0G 2A, 6 SOG · Cates 1G 2A, 5 SOG
Boeser's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 1–0 · Boeser's defensive zone 1–0 (2022-23 to 2025-26)
Boeser blocked 0 of Cates's shots; Cates blocked 1 of Boeser's.
On the ice against each other (Boeser's side)
8:30 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Boeser's side
- Shot attempts
- 11–17
- 39.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–1.3
- 11.6%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Boeser | Cates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-30 | VAN 3–6 PHI | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2025-12-22 | VAN 2–5 PHI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2023-10-17 | VAN 0–2 PHI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-02-18 | VAN 6–2 PHI | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-10-15 | VAN 2–3 PHI | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
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.
Brock Boeser
4games (2 left)
3.1proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ EDMOpp allows 15th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Tristan Jarry (.882)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs EDMOpp allows 15th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Devon Levi (.682)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CGY1.8 ptsOpp allows 2nd-most FP to RWSchedule edge −3.4 win%Likely vs Dustin Wolf (.899)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs VGKB2B1.3 ptsOpp allows 14th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Carter Hart (.891)
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 Brock Boeser or Noah Cates in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brock Boeser projects to 1.68 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33. Boeser had 48 points in 75 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, Brock Boeser or Noah Cates?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Noah Cates leads in 23 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Boeser and Cates done against each other?
- In 5 games against each other in our data, Boeser's team went 1–4. Boeser had 2 points (0 goals) and Cates had 3 (1 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Boeser or Cates?
- Against each other, Boeser has won 2 and Cates 0 of their 2 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 →