Who to start · 2025-26
Cole Caufield vs Elias Pettersson
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Elias Pettersson projects to 2.34 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Cole Caufield's 2.29.
Caufield had 88 points in 81 games; Pettersson had 51 in 74 games.
This week Caufield has 1 game left; Pettersson has 2 left. We project Pettersson for 4.1 ESPN points to Caufield's 2.4.
Cole Caufield has the better number in 20 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Caufield's biggest edges: Plus/minus +29, Goals above expected +8.1, Luck Meter +66.
Pettersson's biggest edges: Ascension score 57, Blocked shots 108, Faceoffs won 642.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 2 G, 2 A, 2 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Cole Caufield
2.29
fantasy points per game
Elias Pettersson
2.34
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Elias Pettersson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Caufield | Pettersson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.18 | 0.59 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.43 | 0.55 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.17 | 0.19 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.32 | 0.18 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.13 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.12 | 0.70 |
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: Caufield vs Pettersson
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.
Caufield 2G 5A, 18 SOG · Pettersson 6G 6A, 25 SOG
Caufield's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 0–1 · Caufield's defensive zone 0–1 (2024-25 to 2025-26)
Caufield blocked 0 of Pettersson's shots; Pettersson blocked 1 of Caufield's.
On the ice against each other (Caufield's side)
17:03 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Caufield's side
- Shot attempts
- 28–11
- 71.8%
- Expected goals
- 1.0–0.5
- 65.1%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Caufield | Pettersson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-12 | MTL 6–3 VAN | 0G 1A 4S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2025-10-25 | MTL 4–3 VAN | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 2A 4S |
| 2025-03-11 | MTL 4–2 VAN | 1G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2024-03-21 | MTL 1–4 VAN | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-11-12 | MTL 2–5 VAN | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-12-05 | MTL 6–7 VAN | 1G 0A 1S | 1G 2A 1S |
| 2022-11-09 | MTL 5–2 VAN | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2022-03-09 | MTL 3–5 VAN | 0G 1A 3S | 1G 1A 6S |
| 2021-11-29 | MTL 1–2 VAN | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
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.
Cole Caufield
2games (1 left)
2.4proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Tue, Sep 29 @ TOR
- Sat, Oct 3 @ PIT2.4 pts
Elias Pettersson
4games (2 left)
4.1proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Tue, Sep 29 @ EDM
- Thu, Oct 1 vs EDM
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CGY2.0 pts
- Sun, Oct 4 vs VGKB2B2.0 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Cole Caufield or Elias Pettersson in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Elias Pettersson projects to 2.34 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Cole Caufield's 2.29. Caufield had 88 points in 81 games; Pettersson had 51 in 74 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, Cole Caufield or Elias Pettersson?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Cole Caufield leads in 20 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Caufield and Pettersson done against each other?
- In 9 games against each other in our data, Caufield's team went 4–5. Caufield had 7 points (2 goals) and Pettersson had 12 (6 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Caufield or Pettersson?
- Against each other, Caufield has won 0 and Pettersson 2 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 →