Who to start · 2025-26
Cole Caufield vs Sam Malinski
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Cole Caufield projects to 2.29 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sam Malinski's 1.44.
Caufield had 88 points in 81 games; Malinski had 40 in 82 games.
This week Caufield has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Malinski has 1 left. We project Caufield for 1.6 ESPN points to Malinski's 1.4.
Cole Caufield has the better number in 20 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Caufield's biggest edges: Goals above expected +7.8, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.016, Ice time per game 18:11.
Malinski's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 0, High-danger chances 58.1%, 20+ mph bursts 116.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Cole Caufield
2.29
fantasy points per game
Sam Malinski
1.44
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Cole Caufield has the edge.
| Points per game from | Caufield | Malinski |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.18 | 0.18 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.43 | 0.37 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.17 | 0.01 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.32 | 0.20 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.12 | 0.64 |
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 Malinski
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2023-24 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Caufield 2G 2A, 13 SOG · Malinski 1G 1A, 10 SOG
On the ice against each other (Caufield's side)
13:01 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Caufield's side
- Shot attempts
- 6–20
- 23.1%
- Expected goals
- 0.0–1.1
- 2.7%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Caufield | Malinski |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-29 | MTL 7–3 COL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2025-11-29 | MTL 2–7 COL | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-03-22 | MTL 4–5 COL | 0G 0A 6S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-01-04 | MTL 2–1 COL | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-01-15 | MTL 4–3 COL | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
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 11th-most FP to RWLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ PIT1.6 ptsOpp allows the fewest FP to RWLikely vs Arturs Silovs (.888)
Sam Malinski
2games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows 3rd-most FP to DLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL1.4 ptsSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Cole Caufield or Sam Malinski 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 Sam Malinski's 1.44. Caufield had 88 points in 81 games; Malinski had 40 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, Cole Caufield or Sam Malinski?
- 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 Malinski done against each other?
- In 5 games against each other in our data, Caufield's team went 3–2. Caufield had 4 points (2 goals) and Malinski had 2 (1 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 →