Who to start · 2025-26
Evan Bouchard vs Ian Cole
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Evan Bouchard projects to 3.14 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30.
Bouchard had 95 points in 82 games; Cole had 23 in 82 games.
This week Bouchard has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Cole has 1 left. We project Bouchard for 1.9 ESPN points to Cole's 1.5.
Evan Bouchard has the better number in 26 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Bouchard's biggest edges: Ascension score 68, Power-play time per game 3:36, Offensive-zone time 47.6%.
Cole's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 0.50, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.019, Hits 73.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 4 G, 4 A, 1 PPP, 10 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Evan Bouchard
3.14
fantasy points per game
Ian Cole
1.30
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Evan Bouchard has the edge.
| Points per game from | Bouchard | Cole |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.92 | 0.06 |
| Assists (+1) | 1.03 | 0.22 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.21 | 0.00 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.30 | 0.07 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.63 | 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: Bouchard vs Cole
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.
Bouchard 4G 20A, 60 SOG · Cole 0G 5A, 13 SOG
Bouchard blocked 1 of Cole's shots; Cole blocked 3 of Bouchard's.
On the ice against each other (Bouchard's side)
8:37 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Bouchard's side
- Shot attempts
- 8–6
- 57.1%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.3
- 48.3%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Bouchard | Cole |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-07 | EDM 5–6 UTA | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2026-03-24 | EDM 5–2 UTA | 0G 3A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-10-28 | EDM 6–3 UTA | 0G 3A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-03-18 | EDM 7–1 UTA | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-12-31 | EDM 4–1 UTA | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-11-29 | EDM 4–3 UTA | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-05-20 · PO | EDM 3–2 VAN | 0G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-05-18 · PO | EDM 5–1 VAN | 1G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-05-16 · PO | EDM 2–3 VAN | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-05-14 · PO | EDM 3–2 VAN | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-05-12 · PO | EDM 3–4 VAN | 1G 1A 6S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-05-10 · PO | EDM 4–3 VAN | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 0S |
Latest 12 of 21 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.
Evan Bouchard
3games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VANOpp allows 5th-most FP to DLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 5th-most FP to DLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.9 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to DLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)
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 Evan Bouchard or Ian Cole in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Evan Bouchard projects to 3.14 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30. Bouchard had 95 points in 82 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, Evan Bouchard or Ian Cole?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Evan Bouchard 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 Bouchard and Cole done against each other?
- In 21 games against each other in our data, Bouchard's team went 11–10. Bouchard had 24 points (4 goals) and Cole had 5 (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 →