Who to start · 2025-26
Elias Pettersson vs Noah Cates
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Elias Pettersson projects to 2.34 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33.
Pettersson had 51 points in 74 games; Cates had 47 in 82 games.
This week Pettersson has 2 games left with 1 soft matchup; Cates has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Pettersson for 3.8 ESPN points to Cates's 1.5.
They split the 36 stats both are ranked on 17–17.
Pettersson's biggest edges: Ascension score 57, Hardest shot 91.8, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.60.
Cates's biggest edges: Plus/minus +26, Expected goals 53.9%, Sequence xG 53.6%.
Head to head on the dot, Cates leads Pettersson 7–6.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 2 G, 2 A, 2 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Elias Pettersson
2.34
fantasy points per game
Noah Cates
1.33
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Elias Pettersson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Pettersson | Cates |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.59 | 0.39 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.55 | 0.31 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.19 | 0.05 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.13 | 0.11 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.70 | 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: Pettersson 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.
Pettersson 2G 3A, 10 SOG · Cates 1G 1A, 5 SOG
Pettersson's offensive zone 2–2 · neutral 2–4 · Pettersson's defensive zone 2–1 (2022-23 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Pettersson's side)
4:34 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Pettersson's side
- Shot attempts
- 8–4
- 66.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.3
- 41.3%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Pettersson | Cates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-30 | VAN 3–6 PHI | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2023-10-17 | VAN 0–2 PHI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-02-18 | VAN 6–2 PHI | 2G 3A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-10-15 | VAN 2–3 PHI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
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 Pettersson
4games (2 left)
3.8proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ EDMOpp allows 12th-most FP to CLikely vs Tristan Jarry (.882)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs EDMOpp allows 12th-most FP to CLikely vs Devon Levi (.682)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CGY2.3 ptsOpp allows 2nd-most FP to CSchedule edge −3.4 win%Likely vs Dustin Wolf (.899)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs VGKB2B1.5 ptsOpp allows 14th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Carter Hart (.891)
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 Elias Pettersson or Noah Cates in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Elias Pettersson projects to 2.34 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33. Pettersson had 51 points in 74 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, Elias Pettersson or Noah Cates?
- On 2025-26 numbers they split 17–17 across 36 stats where both qualify.
- How have Pettersson and Cates done against each other?
- In 4 games against each other in our data, Pettersson's team went 1–3. Pettersson had 5 points (2 goals) and Cates had 2 (1 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Pettersson or Cates?
- Against each other, Pettersson has won 6 and Cates 7 of their 13 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 →