Who to start · 2025-26
Ian Cole vs Jacob Trouba
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jacob Trouba projects to 1.82 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30.
Cole had 23 points in 82 games; Trouba had 35 in 81 games.
This week Cole has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Trouba has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Trouba for 2.2 ESPN points to Cole's 1.5.
Jacob Trouba has the better number in 18 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Cole's biggest edges: Plus/minus +16, Forecheck xG /60 0.39, High-danger chances 56.7%.
Trouba's biggest edges: Hardest shot 96.5, Shots on goal 166, Goals above expected +3.5.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Ian Cole
1.30
fantasy points per game
Jacob Trouba
1.82
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Jacob Trouba has the edge.
| Points per game from | Cole | Trouba |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.06 | 0.23 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.22 | 0.29 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.20 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.18 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.87 | 0.89 |
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: Cole vs Trouba
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Cole 2G 3A, 22 SOG · Trouba 2G 6A, 60 SOG
Cole blocked 6 of Trouba's shots; Trouba blocked 2 of Cole's.
On the ice against each other (Cole's side)
15:31 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Cole's side
- Shot attempts
- 20–16
- 55.6%
- Expected goals
- 0.9–0.3
- 73.3%
- Goals
- 3–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cole | Trouba |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-20 | UTA 1–4 ANA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-12-03 | UTA 7–0 ANA | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-11-17 | UTA 2–3 ANA | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-03-12 | UTA 3–2 ANA | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-12-22 | UTA 4–5 ANA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-10-12 | UTA 6–5 NYR | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-01-08 | VAN 6–3 NYR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 7S |
| 2023-10-28 | VAN 3–4 NYR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-04-05 | TBL 3–6 NYR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-12-29 | TBL 2–1 NYR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2022-05-30 · PO | CAR 2–6 NYR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-05-28 · PO | CAR 2–5 NYR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 28 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.
Ian Cole
3games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ VGKOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to D
- Thu, Oct 1 @ UTAOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to D
- Sat, Oct 3 @ BUF1.5 ptsOpp allows 8th-most FP to DSchedule edge −1.0 win%
Jacob Trouba
2games (1 left)
2.2proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs FLAOpp allows 13th-most FP to D
- Sat, Oct 3 vs LAK2.2 ptsOpp allows 3rd-most FP to D
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Ian Cole or Jacob Trouba in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jacob Trouba projects to 1.82 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30. Cole had 23 points in 82 games; Trouba had 35 in 81 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, Ian Cole or Jacob Trouba?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Jacob Trouba 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 Cole and Trouba done against each other?
- In 28 games against each other in our data, Cole's team went 14–14. Cole had 5 points (2 goals) and Trouba had 8 (2 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 →