Who to start · 2025-26
Evgeni Malkin vs Ian Cole
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Evgeni Malkin projects to 2.12 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30.
Malkin had 61 points in 56 games; Cole had 23 in 82 games.
This week Malkin has 1 game left; Cole has 1 left. We project Malkin for 1.6 ESPN points to Cole's 1.5.
Evgeni Malkin has the better number in 18 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Malkin's biggest edges: Power-play time per game 3:09, Hardest shot 93.1, Power-play share 72.1%.
Cole's biggest edges: Blocked shots 151, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.019, Hits 73.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Evgeni Malkin
2.12
fantasy points per game
Ian Cole
1.30
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Evgeni Malkin has the edge.
| Points per game from | Malkin | Cole |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.76 | 0.06 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.70 | 0.22 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.00 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.26 | 0.07 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.14 | 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: Malkin vs Cole
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2024-25: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Malkin 3G 5A, 24 SOG · Cole 0G 2A, 11 SOG
Malkin blocked 1 of Cole's shots; Cole blocked 1 of Malkin's.
Goals each scored with the other picking up an assist (as teammates).
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Malkin | Cole |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11-23 | PIT 1–6 UTA | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-02-27 | PIT 4–3 VAN | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-01-11 | PIT 3–4 VAN | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-03-02 | PIT 5–4 TBL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-02-26 | PIT 7–3 TBL | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2022-03-13 | PIT 4–2 CAR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-03-04 | PIT 2–3 CAR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2020-01-10 | PIT 4–3 COL | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2018-12-04 | PIT 6–3 COL | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2018-11-28 | PIT 3–6 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2018-04-05 | PIT 5–4 CBJ | 0G 1A 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.
Evgeni Malkin
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 7th-most FP to CLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL1.6 ptsOpp allows 14th-most FP to Cvs Jakub Dobes (.901)
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%vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.910)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Evgeni Malkin or Ian Cole in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Evgeni Malkin projects to 2.12 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30. Malkin had 61 points in 56 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, Evgeni Malkin or Ian Cole?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Evgeni Malkin leads in 18 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Malkin and Cole done against each other?
- In 11 games against each other in our data, Malkin's team went 7–4. Malkin had 8 points (3 goals) and Cole had 2 (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 →