Who to start · 2025-26
Gabriel Vilardi vs Ian Cole
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Gabriel Vilardi projects to 1.76 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30.
Vilardi had 69 points in 82 games; Cole had 23 in 82 games.
This week Vilardi has 1 game left; Cole has 1 left. We project Vilardi for 1.8 ESPN points to Cole's 1.4.
Gabriel Vilardi has the better number in 20 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Vilardi's biggest edges: Ascension score 56, Power-play time per game 3:01, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.74.
Cole's biggest edges: Plus/minus +16, Forecheck xG /60 0.39, Transition attempts /60 0.50.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Gabriel Vilardi
1.76
fantasy points per game
Ian Cole
1.30
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Gabriel Vilardi has the edge.
| Points per game from | Vilardi | Cole |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.69 | 0.06 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.51 | 0.22 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.17 | 0.00 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.07 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.02 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.20 | 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: Vilardi vs Cole
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2019-20 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Vilardi 4G 10A, 30 SOG · Cole 0G 3A, 9 SOG
Vilardi blocked 3 of Cole's shots; Cole blocked 0 of Vilardi's.
On the ice against each other (Vilardi's side)
15:14 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Vilardi's side
- Shot attempts
- 13–11
- 54.2%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.4
- 59.8%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Vilardi | Cole |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-14 | WPG 3–5 UTA | 0G 2A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-12-21 | WPG 3–4 UTA | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-10-26 | WPG 2–3 UTA | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-01-24 | WPG 5–2 UTA | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-01-20 | WPG 2–5 UTA | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-11-05 | WPG 3–0 UTA | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-02-17 | WPG 4–2 VAN | 2G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-10-25 | LAK 4–2 TBL | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2021-02-27 | LAK 3–4 MIN | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2021-02-26 | LAK 1–3 MIN | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2021-04-23 | LAK 2–4 MIN | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2021-01-28 | LAK 3–5 MIN | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
Latest 12 of 15 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.
Gabriel Vilardi
2games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs BOS
- Sun, Oct 4 @ DET1.8 pts
Ian Cole
3games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Tue, Sep 29 @ VGK
- Thu, Oct 1 @ UTA
- Sat, Oct 3 @ BUF1.4 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Gabriel Vilardi or Ian Cole in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Gabriel Vilardi projects to 1.76 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30. Vilardi had 69 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, Gabriel Vilardi or Ian Cole?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Gabriel Vilardi leads in 20 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Vilardi and Cole done against each other?
- In 15 games against each other in our data, Vilardi's team went 6–9. Vilardi had 14 points (4 goals) and Cole had 3 (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 →