Who to start · 2025-26
Brock Nelson 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 Brock Nelson's 2.23.
Nelson had 65 points in 81 games; Caufield had 88 in 81 games.
This week Nelson has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Caufield has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Caufield for 1.6 ESPN points to Nelson's 1.3.
They split the 34 stats both are ranked on 17–17.
Nelson's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 735, Blocked shots 65, High-danger chances 57.1%.
Caufield's biggest edges: Luck Meter +66, Transition attempts /60 1.65, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.37.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 2 A, 3 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brock Nelson
2.23
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 | Nelson | Caufield |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.89 | 1.18 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.43 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.20 | 0.17 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.22 | 0.32 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.38 | 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: Nelson 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.
Nelson 8G 5A, 34 SOG · Caufield 5G 5A, 32 SOG
On the ice against each other (Nelson's side)
5:48 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Nelson's side
- Shot attempts
- 9–7
- 56.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.8–0.1
- 84.5%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Nelson | Caufield |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-29 | COL 3–7 MTL | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-11-29 | COL 7–2 MTL | 2G 2A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-03-22 | COL 5–4 MTL | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2024-12-03 | NYI 1–2 MTL | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-10-19 | NYI 4–3 MTL | 0G 0A 4S | 2G 0A 3S |
| 2024-04-11 | NYI 3–2 MTL | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2024-01-25 | NYI 3–4 MTL | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2023-12-16 | NYI 3–5 MTL | 2G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2023-01-14 | NYI 2–1 MTL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-04-15 | NYI 3–0 MTL | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2022-02-20 | NYI 2–3 MTL | 1G 0A 6S | 0G 1A 3S |
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 Nelson
2games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows the most FP to CLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL1.3 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
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 Brock Nelson 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 Brock Nelson's 2.23. Nelson had 65 points in 81 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, Brock Nelson or Cole Caufield?
- On 2025-26 numbers they split 17–17 across 34 stats where both qualify.
- How have Nelson and Caufield done against each other?
- In 11 games against each other in our data, Nelson's team went 6–5. Nelson had 13 points (8 goals) and Caufield had 10 (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 →