Edgehalla

Who to start · 2025-26

Cole Hutson vs Jackson LaCombe

Cole HutsonCapitals · Defence
vs
Jackson LaCombeDucks · Defence
SteadyPP1 in 0 of last 5 (was 8 of 17)
CoolingLine Watch: moved down a line Oct 10

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jackson LaCombe projects to 2.02 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Cole Hutson's 1.54.

Hutson had 10 points in 14 games; LaCombe had 58 in 82 games.

This week Hutson has 2 games left with 1 soft matchup; LaCombe has 3 left with 2 soft and 1 tough matchups. In ESPN default points scoring we project LaCombe for 6.5 to Hutson's 3.0 over the games left.

Jackson LaCombe has the better number in 8 of the 14 stats both are ranked on.

Hutson's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.18, Luck Meter +21, Offensive-zone start % 48.7%.

LaCombe's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 −0.009, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.21, High-danger chances 52.4%.

In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Cole Hutson rates ahead, +5.8 to +4.7 in summed category z-scores.

Role trend over the last 5 games: Hutson is steady, PP1 in 0 of last 5 (was 8 of 17); LaCombe is cooling, Line Watch: moved down a line Oct 10.

  • • Cole Hutson is a rookie: 14 NHL games before this season.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 8 GP, 1 G, 3 A, 1 PPP, 19 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 8 GP, 1 G, 5 A, 3 PPP, 6 SOG.

Washington Capitals · Anaheim Ducks · Who should I start? · Compare other players

Fantasy value: your scoring

Cole Hutson

+5.8

category z-score total

Jackson LaCombe

+4.7

category z-score total

Under Standard (6 categories), Cole Hutson has the edge (Hutson wins 5, LaCombe wins 1 of 6 categories).

Per-stat breakdown under Standard (6 categories)
CategoryHutsonLaCombe
Goals / game0.180.12
Assists / game0.460.60
Plus/minus / game-0.10-0.10
Power-play points / game0.280.27
Shots on goal / game1.851.51
Hits / game1.010.85

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 scoring choice is shared with Who Should I Start: saved on this device, and on your account when you are signed in.

Head-to-head

Cole Hutson and Jackson LaCombe have no head-to-head events in our data yet (regular season and playoffs since 2019-20).

Every stat, side by side

Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.

HutsonLaCombe

Fantasy box score

Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

This week's schedule

Oct 19 to Oct 25. 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 cover the games left: Edgehalla's rest-of-season rates per game, adjusted for each opponent's scoring allowed, in ESPN default points.

Scored in ESPN default points (G 2, A 1, PPP 0.5, SHP 0.5, SOG 0.1, HIT 0.1, BLK 0.5). Use your league's scoring

Cole Hutson

2games

3.0proj. ESPN default pts

Jackson LaCombe

4games (3 left)

6.5proj. ESPN default pts

  • Mon, Oct 19 @ NYR
    Opp allows 12th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Dylan Garand (.948)
  • Tue, Oct 20 @ NYIB2B1.8 pts
    Opp allows 5th-fewest FP to DSchedule edge −9.3 win%vs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
  • Thu, Oct 22 @ NJD2.3 pts
    Opp allows 2nd-most FP to DLikely vs Jake Allen (.904)
  • Sat, Oct 24 @ PHI2.3 pts
    Opp allows 4th-most FP to DLikely vs Joseph Woll (.899)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Cole Hutson or Jackson LaCombe in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jackson LaCombe projects to 2.02 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Cole Hutson's 1.54. Hutson had 10 points in 14 games; LaCombe had 58 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 Hutson or Jackson LaCombe?
On 2025-26 numbers, Jackson LaCombe leads in 8 of 14 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.

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 →