Who to start · 2025-26
Drake Batherson vs Noah Cates
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Drake Batherson projects to 2.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33.
Batherson had 71 points in 79 games; Cates had 47 in 82 games.
This week Batherson has 1 game left; Cates has 1 left. We project Batherson for 1.7 ESPN points to Cates's 1.2.
Drake Batherson has the better number in 24 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Batherson's biggest edges: Hardest shot 90.6, 20+ mph bursts 139, Corsi 55.2%.
Cates's biggest edges: Plus/minus +26, On-ice PDO 1026, Blocked shots 51.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Drake Batherson
2.01
fantasy points per game
Noah Cates
1.45
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Drake Batherson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Batherson | Cates |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.84 | 0.44 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.48 | 0.35 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.19 | 0.05 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.21 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.15 | 0.12 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.14 | 0.31 |
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: Batherson vs Cates
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.
Batherson 1G 3A, 24 SOG · Cates 2G 1A, 15 SOG
Batherson's offensive zone 1–0 · neutral 0–0 · Batherson's defensive zone 0–0 (2024-25)
On the ice against each other (Batherson's side)
9:12 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Batherson's side
- Shot attempts
- 9–5
- 64.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.8–0.1
- 87.9%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Batherson | Cates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-05 | OTT 2–1 PHI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-11-08 | OTT 3–2 PHI | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-10-23 | OTT 2–1 PHI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-04-13 | OTT 4–3 PHI | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-03-11 | OTT 5–2 PHI | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-11-14 | OTT 4–5 PHI | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-03-02 | OTT 2–4 PHI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-01-21 | OTT 5–3 PHI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-10-14 | OTT 5–2 PHI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-03-30 | OTT 5–4 PHI | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2022-11-12 | OTT 4–1 PHI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-11-05 | OTT 1–2 PHI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
Latest 12 of 13 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.
Drake Batherson
1games
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TOR1.7 pts
Noah Cates
3games (1 left)
1.2proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs PIT
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NJDB2BSchedule edge −9.3 win%
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CAR1.2 ptsSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Drake Batherson or Noah Cates in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Drake Batherson projects to 2.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33. Batherson had 71 points in 79 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, Drake Batherson or Noah Cates?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Drake Batherson leads in 24 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Batherson and Cates done against each other?
- In 13 games against each other in our data, Batherson's team went 10–3. Batherson had 4 points (1 goals) and Cates had 3 (2 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Batherson or Cates?
- Against each other, Batherson has won 1 and Cates 0 of their 1 head-to-head draws.
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 →