Who to start · 2025-26
Bryan Rust 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 Bryan Rust's 2.28.
Rust had 65 points in 72 games; Caufield had 88 in 81 games.
This week Rust has 1 game left; Caufield has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Rust for 2.2 ESPN points to Caufield's 1.6.
Cole Caufield has the better number in 22 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Rust's biggest edges: Blocked shots 71, Penalty minutes 26, Shorthanded points 2.
Caufield's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.65, Expected goals 53.8%, Sequence xG 53.8%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Bryan Rust
2.28
fantasy points per game
Cole Caufield
2.40
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Cole Caufield has the edge.
| Points per game from | Rust | Caufield |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.81 | 1.26 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.46 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.17 | 0.18 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.32 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.06 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.49 | 0.13 |
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: Rust 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.
Rust 5G 7A, 28 SOG · Caufield 3G 3A, 27 SOG
On the ice against each other (Rust's side)
22:19 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Rust's side
- Shot attempts
- 17–33
- 34.0%
- Expected goals
- 1.0–1.1
- 47.3%
- Goals
- 2–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Rust | Caufield |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-21 | PIT 4–3 MTL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-12-20 | PIT 0–4 MTL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-12-11 | PIT 2–4 MTL | 1G 1A 5S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2024-12-12 | PIT 9–2 MTL | 3G 1A 6S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-10-14 | PIT 6–3 MTL | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-02-22 | PIT 4–1 MTL | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-01-27 | PIT 3–2 MTL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2022-11-12 | PIT 4–5 MTL | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 6S |
| 2022-10-17 | PIT 2–3 MTL | 0G 2A 2S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2021-11-18 | PIT 6–0 MTL | 0G 2A 2S | 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.
Bryan Rust
2games (1 left)
2.2proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 5th-most FP to RWLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL2.2 ptsOpp allows 12th-most FP to RWvs Jakub Dobes (.901)
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 Bryan Rust 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 Bryan Rust's 2.28. Rust had 65 points in 72 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, Bryan Rust or Cole Caufield?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Cole Caufield leads in 22 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Rust and Caufield done against each other?
- In 10 games against each other in our data, Rust's team went 6–4. Rust had 12 points (5 goals) and Caufield had 6 (3 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 →