Who to start · 2025-26
Dylan Strome vs Noah Cates
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Dylan Strome projects to 1.72 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33.
Strome had 58 points in 80 games; Cates had 47 in 82 games.
This week Strome has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Cates has 1 left. We project Strome for 1.8 ESPN points to Cates's 1.0.
Dylan Strome has the better number in 22 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Strome's biggest edges: Ascension score 55, Faceoff win % 58.3%, Draw Equity /100 +0.104.
Cates's biggest edges: Hits 102, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.031, Expected goals 53.9%.
Head to head on the dot, Cates leads Strome 20–14.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Dylan Strome
1.72
fantasy points per game
Noah Cates
1.33
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Dylan Strome has the edge.
| Points per game from | Strome | Cates |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.45 | 0.39 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.58 | 0.31 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.15 | 0.05 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.01 | 0.11 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.34 | 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: Strome 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.
Strome 2G 7A, 14 SOG · Cates 1G 3A, 11 SOG
Strome's offensive zone 8–8 · neutral 3–9 · Strome's defensive zone 3–3 (2022-23 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Strome's side)
11:11 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Strome's side
- Shot attempts
- 6–15
- 28.6%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–1.7
- 14.4%
- Goals
- 0–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Strome | Cates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-31 | WSH 6–4 PHI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2026-03-11 | WSH 1–4 PHI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2026-02-25 | WSH 3–1 PHI | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2026-02-03 | WSH 2–4 PHI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-03-20 | WSH 3–2 PHI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-02-06 | WSH 4–3 PHI | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-10-23 | WSH 6–3 PHI | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-10-22 | WSH 4–1 PHI | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-04-16 | WSH 2–1 PHI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-03-01 | WSH 5–2 PHI | 1G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-01-11 | WSH 3–5 PHI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-12-07 | WSH 4–1 PHI | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
Latest 12 of 14 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.
Dylan Strome
2games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ CAROpp allows 5th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TBLB2B1.8 ptsOpp allows 8th-most FP to CSchedule edge −13.3 win%Likely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
Noah Cates
3games (1 left)
1.0proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs PITOpp allows the fewest FP to LWLikely vs Arturs Silovs (.888)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NJDB2BOpp allows 8th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Jake Allen (.904)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CAR1.0 ptsOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge +12.9 win%Likely vs Pyotr Kochetkov (.899)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Dylan Strome or Noah Cates in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Dylan Strome projects to 1.72 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33. Strome had 58 points in 80 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, Dylan Strome or Noah Cates?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Dylan Strome leads in 22 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Strome and Cates done against each other?
- In 14 games against each other in our data, Strome's team went 11–3. Strome had 9 points (2 goals) and Cates had 4 (1 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Strome or Cates?
- Against each other, Strome has won 14 and Cates 20 of their 34 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 →