Who to start · 2025-26
Colton Parayko vs Noah Cates
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Colton Parayko projects to 1.73 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33.
Parayko had 18 points in 77 games; Cates had 47 in 82 games.
This week Parayko has 1 game left; Cates has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Parayko for 2.0 ESPN points to Cates's 1.5.
Noah Cates has the better number in 26 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Parayko's biggest edges: 20+ mph bursts 94, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.14, Ascension score 49.
Cates's biggest edges: Plus/minus +26, Luck Meter +14, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.031.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Colton Parayko
1.73
fantasy points per game
Noah Cates
1.33
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Colton Parayko has the edge.
| Points per game from | Parayko | Cates |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.10 | 0.39 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.23 | 0.31 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.05 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.14 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.12 | 0.11 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 1.14 | 0.30 |
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: Parayko vs Cates
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2022-23 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Parayko 0G 0A, 16 SOG · Cates 1G 2A, 11 SOG
Parayko blocked 0 of Cates's shots; Cates blocked 1 of Parayko's.
On the ice against each other (Parayko's side)
11:02 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Parayko's side
- Shot attempts
- 12–8
- 60.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.2
- 69.6%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Parayko | Cates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-20 | STL 2–3 PHI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-11-14 | STL 5–6 PHI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-11-30 | STL 2–3 PHI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-10-31 | STL 1–2 PHI | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-03-04 | STL 2–1 PHI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-01-15 | STL 2–4 PHI | 0G 0A 7S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-04-04 | STL 4–2 PHI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-11-08 | STL 1–5 PHI | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 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.
Colton Parayko
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DALOpp allows 9th-most FP to DLikely vs Jake Oettinger (.899)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ COLB2B2.0 ptsOpp allows 12th-most FP to DSchedule edge −13.4 win%Likely vs Scott Wedgewood (.921)
Noah Cates
3games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs PITOpp allows the fewest FP to LWLikely vs Arturs Silovs (.888)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NJDB2BOpp allows 9th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Jake Allen (.904)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CAR1.5 ptsOpp allows 9th-most FP to LWSchedule edge +9.0 win%Likely vs Pyotr Kochetkov (.899)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Colton Parayko or Noah Cates in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Colton Parayko projects to 1.73 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33. Parayko had 18 points in 77 games; Cates had 47 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, Colton Parayko or Noah Cates?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Noah Cates leads in 26 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Parayko and Cates done against each other?
- In 8 games against each other in our data, Parayko's team went 2–6. Parayko had 0 points (0 goals) and Cates had 3 (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 →