Who to start · 2025-26
Cole Caufield vs Mitch Marner
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Cole Caufield projects to 2.29 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mitch Marner's 1.88.
Caufield had 88 points in 81 games; Marner had 80 in 81 games.
This week Caufield has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Marner has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Marner for 2.3 ESPN points to Caufield's 1.6.
Mitch Marner has the better number in 18 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Caufield's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.65, Luck Meter +66, Forecheck xG /60 0.33.
Marner's biggest edges: Blocked shots 46, High-danger chances 59.0%, Faceoffs won 150.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 5 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Cole Caufield
2.29
fantasy points per game
Mitch Marner
1.88
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Cole Caufield has the edge.
| Points per game from | Caufield | Marner |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.18 | 0.52 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.43 | 0.67 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.17 | 0.16 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.32 | 0.21 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.12 | 0.28 |
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 Marner
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2020-21 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Caufield 12G 4A, 69 SOG · Marner 4G 15A, 69 SOG
Caufield blocked 0 of Marner's shots; Marner blocked 1 of Caufield's.
On the ice against each other (Caufield's side)
5:47 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Caufield's side
- Shot attempts
- 5–6
- 45.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.0–0.1
- 21.0%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Caufield | Marner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-27 | MTL 3–2 VGK | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-11-28 | MTL 4–1 VGK | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-04-12 | MTL 0–1 TOR | 0G 0A 5S | 1G 0A 6S |
| 2025-01-18 | MTL 3–7 TOR | 0G 0A 10S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2024-11-09 | MTL 1–4 TOR | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 5S |
| 2024-10-09 | MTL 1–0 TOR | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2024-04-06 | MTL 2–4 TOR | 1G 0A 7S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-10-11 | MTL 5–6 TOR | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-10-12 | MTL 4–3 TOR | 2G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2022-04-09 | MTL 2–3 TOR | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 6S |
| 2022-03-26 | MTL 4–2 TOR | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 4S |
| 2022-02-21 | MTL 5–2 TOR | 1G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 5S |
Latest 12 of 22 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.
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)
Mitch Marner
3games (1 left)
2.3proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs CHIOpp allows 4th-most FP to RWLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs ANAOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ VAN2.3 ptsOpp allows 9th-most FP to RWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Cole Caufield or Mitch Marner 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 Mitch Marner's 1.88. Caufield had 88 points in 81 games; Marner had 80 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, Cole Caufield or Mitch Marner?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mitch Marner 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 Marner done against each other?
- In 22 games against each other in our data, Caufield's team went 10–12. Caufield had 16 points (12 goals) and Marner had 19 (4 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 →