Who to start · 2025-26
Brock Nelson vs Ian Cole
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brock Nelson projects to 2.23 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30.
Nelson had 65 points in 81 games; Cole had 23 in 82 games.
This week Nelson has 1 game left; Cole has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Nelson for 1.6 ESPN points to Cole's 1.5.
Brock Nelson has the better number in 27 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Nelson's biggest edges: Power-play time per game 3:14, 20+ mph bursts 150, Offensive-zone time 44.0%.
Cole's biggest edges: Luck Meter +32, Transition attempts /60 0.50, Hits 73.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 2 A, 3 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brock Nelson
2.23
fantasy points per game
Ian Cole
1.30
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Brock Nelson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Nelson | Cole |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.89 | 0.06 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.22 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.20 | 0.00 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.22 | 0.07 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.38 | 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: Nelson 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.
Nelson 7G 6A, 40 SOG · Cole 0G 1A, 15 SOG
Nelson blocked 0 of Cole's shots; Cole blocked 2 of Nelson's.
On the ice against each other (Nelson's side)
14:02 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Nelson's side
- Shot attempts
- 17–11
- 60.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.4
- 49.8%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Nelson | Cole |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-25 | COL 4–2 UTA | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-12-23 | COL 1–0 UTA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-10-21 | COL 3–4 UTA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-10-09 | COL 2–1 UTA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-01-11 | NYI 2–1 UTA | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-10-10 | NYI 4–5 UTA | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-11-15 | NYI 3–4 VAN | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-04-06 | NYI 6–1 TBL | 1G 2A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-04-01 | NYI 0–5 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2022-10-22 | NYI 3–5 TBL | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2021-10-14 | NYI 3–6 CAR | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2020-02-19 | NYI 1–3 COL | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 16 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.
Brock Nelson
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows the most FP to CLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL1.6 ptsSchedule edge +10.1 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 Brock Nelson or Ian Cole in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brock Nelson projects to 2.23 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30. Nelson had 65 points in 81 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, Brock Nelson or Ian Cole?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Brock Nelson leads in 27 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Nelson and Cole done against each other?
- In 16 games against each other in our data, Nelson's team went 7–9. Nelson had 13 points (7 goals) and Cole had 1 (0 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 →