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Who to start · 2025-26

Evan Bouchard vs Noah Cates

Evan BouchardEvan BouchardOilers · DefencevsNoah CatesNoah CatesFlyers · Left wing

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Evan Bouchard projects to 3.14 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33.

Bouchard had 95 points in 82 games; Cates had 47 in 82 games.

This week Bouchard has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Cates has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Bouchard for 1.9 ESPN points to Cates'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, 20+ mph bursts 77, Hardest shot 98.1.

Cates's biggest edges: Hits 102, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.031, On-ice PDO 1026.

  • • 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, 3 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Evan Bouchard

3.14

fantasy points per game

Noah Cates

1.33

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Evan Bouchard has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromBouchardCates
Goals (+2)0.920.39
Assists (+1)1.030.31
Power-play points (+0.5)0.210.05
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.010.01
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.300.16
Hits (+0.1)0.040.11
Blocks (+0.5)0.630.30

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: Bouchard 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.

BouchardCates
2Team record in 6 meetings4
2Points in those games1

Bouchard 2G 0A, 16 SOG · Cates 1G 0A, 7 SOG

On the ice against each other (Bouchard's side)

9:08 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Bouchard's side

Shot attempts
13–7
65.0%
Expected goals
0.5–0.4
58.0%
Goals
1–1

Games against each other

Games between Evan Bouchard and Noah Cates
DateScoreBouchardCates
2026-01-03EDM 2–5 PHI1G 0A 4S0G 0A 0S
2025-11-12EDM 2–1 PHI1G 0A 4S0G 0A 3S
2025-02-22EDM 3–6 PHI0G 0A 1S0G 0A 1S
2023-10-19EDM 1–4 PHI0G 0A 1S0G 0A 0S
2023-02-21EDM 4–2 PHI0G 0A 3S1G 0A 1S
2023-02-09EDM 1–2 PHI0G 0A 3S0G 0A 2S

Every stat, side by side

Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.

BouchardCates

Fantasy box score

Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

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 VAN
    Opp allows 5th-most FP to D
  • Thu, Oct 1 @ VAN
    Opp allows 5th-most FP to D
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.9 pts
    Opp allows 3rd-fewest FP to D

Noah Cates

3games (1 left)

1.5proj. ESPN pts

  • Wed, Sep 30 vs PIT
    Opp allows the fewest FP to LW
  • Thu, Oct 1 @ NJDB2B
    Opp allows 9th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge −9.3 win%
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs CAR1.5 pts
    Opp allows 9th-most FP to LWSchedule edge +9.3 win%

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Evan Bouchard or Noah Cates 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 Noah Cates's 1.33. Bouchard had 95 points in 82 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, Evan Bouchard or Noah Cates?
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 Cates done against each other?
In 6 games against each other in our data, Bouchard's team went 2–4. Bouchard had 2 points (2 goals) and Cates had 1 (1 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 →