Who to start · 2025-26
Gabriel Vilardi vs Noah Cates
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Gabriel Vilardi projects to 1.76 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33.
Vilardi had 69 points in 82 games; Cates had 47 in 82 games.
This week Vilardi has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Cates has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Cates for 1.5 ESPN points to Vilardi's 1.3.
Noah Cates has the better number in 20 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Vilardi's biggest edges: Ascension score 56, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.74, Offensive-zone time 44.8%.
Cates's biggest edges: Plus/minus +26, Hits 102, Faceoffs won 467.
- • 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, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Gabriel Vilardi
1.76
fantasy points per game
Noah Cates
1.33
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Gabriel Vilardi has the edge.
| Points per game from | Vilardi | Cates |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.69 | 0.39 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.51 | 0.31 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.17 | 0.05 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.02 | 0.11 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.20 | 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: Vilardi 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.
Vilardi 0G 5A, 7 SOG · Cates 2G 5A, 9 SOG
Vilardi's offensive zone 0–2 · neutral 0–0 · Vilardi's defensive zone 0–0 (2024-25)
On the ice against each other (Vilardi's side)
12:07 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Vilardi's side
- Shot attempts
- 4–8
- 33.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.6
- 23.3%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Vilardi | Cates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-11 | WPG 1–7 PHI | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 2A 2S |
| 2025-10-16 | WPG 5–2 PHI | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-03-06 | WPG 4–1 PHI | 0G 3A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-03-01 | WPG 1–2 PHI | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2024-02-08 | WPG 1–4 PHI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2022-12-31 | LAK 2–4 PHI | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 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.
Gabriel Vilardi
2games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs BOSOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ DET1.3 ptsOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to CLikely vs John Gibson (.901)
Noah Cates
3games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs PITOpp allows the fewest FP to LWLikely vs Arturs Silovs (.888)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NJDB2BOpp allows 9th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Jake Allen (.904)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CAR1.5 ptsOpp allows 9th-most FP to LWSchedule edge +12.9 win%Likely vs Pyotr Kochetkov (.899)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Gabriel Vilardi or Noah Cates 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 Noah Cates's 1.33. Vilardi had 69 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, Gabriel Vilardi or Noah Cates?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Noah Cates leads in 20 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Vilardi and Cates done against each other?
- In 6 games against each other in our data, Vilardi's team went 2–4. Vilardi had 5 points (0 goals) and Cates had 7 (2 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Vilardi or Cates?
- Against each other, Vilardi has won 0 and Cates 2 of their 2 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 →