Who to start · 2025-26
Cole Caufield vs Jack Hughes
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jack Hughes projects to 2.55 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Cole Caufield's 2.29.
Caufield had 88 points in 81 games; Hughes had 77 in 61 games.
This week Caufield has 1 game left; Hughes has 1 left. We project Hughes for 2.3 ESPN points to Caufield's 2.0.
Cole Caufield has the better number in 18 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Caufield's biggest edges: On-ice PDO 1042, Goals above expected +8.1, Luck Meter +66.
Hughes's biggest edges: Ascension score 51, Faceoffs won 145, High-danger chances 53.6%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Cole Caufield
2.29
fantasy points per game
Jack Hughes
2.55
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Jack Hughes has the edge.
| Points per game from | Caufield | Hughes |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.18 | 0.95 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.43 | 0.77 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.17 | 0.18 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.02 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.32 | 0.38 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.01 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.12 | 0.25 |
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 Hughes
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 1G 6A, 29 SOG · Hughes 8G 13A, 45 SOG
Caufield blocked 1 of Hughes's shots; Hughes blocked 0 of Caufield's.
On the ice against each other (Caufield's side)
16:00 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Caufield's side
- Shot attempts
- 9–21
- 30.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–1.5
- 26.4%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Caufield | Hughes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-05 | MTL 0–3 NJD | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 2A 6S |
| 2026-04-04 | MTL 4–3 NJD | 0G 2A 5S | 1G 1A 5S |
| 2025-11-06 | MTL 3–4 NJD | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 6S |
| 2025-02-08 | MTL 0–4 NJD | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2025-01-25 | MTL 3–4 NJD | 1G 1A 4S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2024-11-07 | MTL 3–5 NJD | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 2A 5S |
| 2024-02-24 | MTL 3–4 NJD | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2023-10-24 | MTL 2–5 NJD | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 4A 2S |
| 2022-11-15 | MTL 1–5 NJD | 0G 0A 1S | 2G 1A 7S |
| 2022-03-27 | MTL 2–3 NJD | 0G 1A 4S | 2G 0A 7S |
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)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ TOR
- Sat, Oct 3 @ PIT2.0 pts
Jack Hughes
2games (1 left)
2.3proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs PHISchedule edge +9.3 win%
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NYI2.3 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Cole Caufield or Jack Hughes in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jack Hughes projects to 2.55 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Cole Caufield's 2.29. Caufield had 88 points in 81 games; Hughes had 77 in 61 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 Jack Hughes?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Cole Caufield leads in 18 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 Hughes done against each other?
- In 10 games against each other in our data, Caufield's team went 1–9. Caufield had 7 points (1 goals) and Hughes had 21 (8 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 →