Who to start · 2025-26
Elias Lindholm vs Ian Cole
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Elias Lindholm projects to 1.78 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30.
Lindholm had 48 points in 69 games; Cole had 23 in 82 games.
This week Lindholm has 1 game left; Cole has 1 left. We project Cole for 1.5 ESPN points to Lindholm's 1.2.
Ian Cole has the better number in 19 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Lindholm's biggest edges: Power-play time per game 2:43, Power-play share 63.2%, Hardest shot 88.3.
Cole's biggest edges: High-danger chances 56.7%, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.019, Plus/minus +16.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Elias Lindholm
1.78
fantasy points per game
Ian Cole
1.30
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Elias Lindholm has the edge.
| Points per game from | Lindholm | Cole |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.55 | 0.06 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.46 | 0.22 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.13 | 0.00 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.07 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.06 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.41 | 0.87 |
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: Lindholm vs Cole
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Lindholm 8G 11A, 40 SOG · Cole 0G 9A, 21 SOG
Lindholm blocked 3 of Cole's shots; Cole blocked 3 of Lindholm's.
On the ice against each other (Lindholm's side)
5:49 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Lindholm's side
- Shot attempts
- 5–3
- 62.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.0
- 79.4%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Lindholm | Cole |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-16 | BOS 4–1 UTA | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-10-19 | BOS 2–3 UTA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-11-21 | BOS 1–0 UTA | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-10-19 | BOS 1–2 UTA | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-12-02 | CGY 3–4 VAN | 2G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-11-16 | CGY 5–2 VAN | 1G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-01-21 | CGY 6–3 TBL | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-11-17 | CGY 1–4 TBL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2022-01-07 | CGY 3–6 CAR | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2021-12-09 | CGY 1–2 CAR | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2019-12-09 | CGY 5–4 COL | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2019-11-19 | CGY 2–3 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
Latest 12 of 22 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.
Elias Lindholm
3games (1 left)
1.2proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs NYROpp allows 15th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ WPGOpp allows 4th-most FP to CLikely vs Stuart Skinner (.888)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ MINB2B1.2 ptsOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −12.7 win%vs Jesper Wallstedt (.916)
Ian Cole
3games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ VGKOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Carter Hart (.891)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ UTAOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to DLikely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ BUF1.5 ptsOpp allows 11th-most FP to DSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.910)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Elias Lindholm or Ian Cole in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Elias Lindholm projects to 1.78 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30. Lindholm had 48 points in 69 games; Cole had 23 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, Elias Lindholm or Ian Cole?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Ian Cole leads in 19 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Lindholm and Cole done against each other?
- In 22 games against each other in our data, Lindholm's team went 11–11. Lindholm had 19 points (8 goals) and Cole had 9 (0 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 →