Who to start · 2025-26
Filip Forsberg vs Noah Cates
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Filip Forsberg projects to 2.16 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33.
Forsberg had 75 points in 82 games; Cates had 47 in 82 games.
This week Forsberg has 1 game left; Cates has 1 left. We project Forsberg for 2.2 ESPN points to Cates's 1.5.
Filip Forsberg has the better number in 21 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Forsberg's biggest edges: Hardest shot 90.5, Ascension score 50, Transition attempts /60 1.98.
Cates's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 467, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.031, Plus/minus +26.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Filip Forsberg
2.16
fantasy points per game
Noah Cates
1.33
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Filip Forsberg has the edge.
| Points per game from | Forsberg | Cates |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.91 | 0.39 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.46 | 0.31 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.15 | 0.05 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.29 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.15 | 0.11 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.19 | 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: Forsberg 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.
Forsberg 0G 2A, 11 SOG · Cates 1G 1A, 3 SOG
Forsberg's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 1–0 · Forsberg's defensive zone 0–0 (2025-26)
Forsberg blocked 0 of Cates's shots; Cates blocked 1 of Forsberg's.
On the ice against each other (Forsberg's side)
10:58 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Forsberg's side
- Shot attempts
- 25–8
- 75.8%
- Expected goals
- 0.8–0.3
- 73.7%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Forsberg | Cates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-06 | NSH 1–3 PHI | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2025-10-30 | NSH 1–4 PHI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-03-31 | NSH 1–2 PHI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-11-27 | NSH 2–3 PHI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-02-11 | NSH 2–1 PHI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-10-22 | NSH 1–3 PHI | 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.
Filip Forsberg
2games (1 left)
2.2proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs MIN
- Sat, Oct 3 vs DAL2.2 pts
Noah Cates
3games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Wed, Sep 30 vs PIT
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NJDB2B
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CAR1.5 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Filip Forsberg or Noah Cates in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Filip Forsberg projects to 2.16 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33. Forsberg had 75 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, Filip Forsberg or Noah Cates?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Filip Forsberg leads in 21 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Forsberg and Cates done against each other?
- In 6 games against each other in our data, Forsberg's team went 1–5. Forsberg had 2 points (0 goals) and Cates had 2 (1 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Forsberg or Cates?
- Against each other, Forsberg has won 1 and Cates 0 of their 1 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 →