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Who to start · 2025-26

Ian Cole vs Joel Eriksson Ek

Ian ColeIan ColeBlackhawks · DefencevsJoel Eriksson EkJoel Eriksson EkWild · Centre

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Joel Eriksson Ek projects to 1.70 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30.

Cole had 23 points in 82 games; Eriksson Ek had 51 in 70 games.

This week Cole has 1 game left; Eriksson Ek has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Cole for 1.5 ESPN points to Eriksson Ek's 1.3.

Joel Eriksson Ek has the better number in 19 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

Cole's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.39, High-danger chances 56.7%, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.019.

Eriksson Ek's biggest edges: Power-play time per game 3:29, Hardest shot 91.4, Ascension score 53.

  • • 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, 3 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Ian Cole

1.30

fantasy points per game

Joel Eriksson Ek

1.70

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Joel Eriksson Ek has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromColeEriksson Ek
Goals (+2)0.060.51
Assists (+1)0.220.43
Power-play points (+0.5)0.000.11
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.010.00
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.070.28
Hits (+0.1)0.080.15
Blocks (+0.5)0.870.23

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 Eriksson Ek

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.

ColeEriksson Ek
8Team record in 19 meetings11
5Points in those games12

Cole 1G 4A, 19 SOG · Eriksson Ek 5G 7A, 46 SOG

1Hits on each other2
2Shots blocked by the other0

Cole blocked 2 of Eriksson Ek's shots; Eriksson Ek blocked 0 of Cole's.

On the ice against each other (Cole's side)

10:48 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Cole's side

Shot attempts
13–14
48.1%
Expected goals
0.8–0.7
54.1%
Goals
0–1

Games against each other

Games between Ian Cole and Joel Eriksson Ek
DateScoreColeEriksson Ek
2026-03-10UTA 0–5 MIN0G 0A 1S0G 1A 1S
2026-02-27UTA 5–2 MIN0G 0A 2S0G 0A 0S
2025-10-25UTA 6–2 MIN0G 1A 1S0G 0A 5S
2025-01-23UTA 4–0 MIN0G 0A 0S0G 0A 4S
2024-02-19VAN 7–10 MIN1G 0A 1S3G 3A 4S
2023-12-16VAN 1–2 MIN0G 0A 1S0G 0A 8S
2023-12-07VAN 2–0 MIN0G 0A 2S0G 0A 5S
2023-01-24TBL 4–2 MIN0G 0A 1S1G 1A 4S
2023-01-04TBL 1–5 MIN0G 0A 0S1G 0A 4S
2022-04-02CAR 1–3 MIN0G 0A 0S0G 0A 3S
2022-02-12CAR 2–3 MIN0G 0A 1S0G 0A 2S
2020-02-09COL 3–2 MIN0G 1A 3S0G 0A 0S

Latest 12 of 19 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.

ColeEriksson Ek

Fantasy box score

Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

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 @ VGK
    Opp allows 12th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Carter Hart (.891)
  • Thu, Oct 1 @ UTA
    Opp allows 2nd-fewest FP to DLikely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
  • Sat, Oct 3 @ BUF1.5 pts
    Opp allows 11th-most FP to DSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.910)

Joel Eriksson Ek

2games (1 left)

1.3proj. ESPN pts

  • Thu, Oct 1 @ NSH
    Opp allows 10th-most FP to CLikely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs BOS1.3 pts
    Opp allows 5th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +12.8 win%Likely vs Michael DiPietro (1.000)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Ian Cole or Joel Eriksson Ek in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Joel Eriksson Ek projects to 1.70 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30. Cole had 23 points in 82 games; Eriksson Ek had 51 in 70 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 Joel Eriksson Ek?
On 2025-26 numbers, Joel Eriksson Ek leads in 19 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 Eriksson Ek done against each other?
In 19 games against each other in our data, Cole's team went 8–11. Cole had 5 points (1 goals) and Eriksson Ek had 12 (5 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 →