Who to start · 2025-26
Ian Cole vs Kyle Connor
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Kyle Connor projects to 2.43 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30.
Cole had 23 points in 82 games; Connor had 92 in 82 games.
This week Cole has 1 game left; Connor has 1 left. We project Connor for 2.4 ESPN points to Cole's 1.5.
Kyle Connor has the better number in 22 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Cole's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 0, Forecheck xG /60 0.39, Blocked shots 151.
Connor's biggest edges: Ascension score 58, Power-play time per game 3:03, Hardest shot 90.9.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 9 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Ian Cole
1.30
fantasy points per game
Kyle Connor
2.43
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Kyle Connor has the edge.
| Points per game from | Cole | Connor |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.06 | 1.02 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.22 | 0.67 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.14 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.37 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.87 | 0.17 |
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 Connor
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 0G 2A, 19 SOG · Connor 10G 8A, 61 SOG
Cole blocked 1 of Connor's shots; Connor blocked 1 of Cole's.
On the ice against each other (Cole's side)
10:07 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Cole's side
- Shot attempts
- 9–14
- 39.1%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.9
- 21.5%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cole | Connor |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-14 | UTA 5–3 WPG | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 6S |
| 2025-12-21 | UTA 4–3 WPG | 0G 0A 0S | 2G 0A 6S |
| 2025-10-26 | UTA 3–2 WPG | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-04-05 | UTA 4–1 WPG | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-01-24 | UTA 2–5 WPG | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-01-20 | UTA 5–2 WPG | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-11-05 | UTA 0–3 WPG | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-03-09 | VAN 5–0 WPG | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-02-17 | VAN 2–4 WPG | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2023-03-12 | TBL 2–3 WPG | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-01-06 | TBL 2–4 WPG | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2022-04-21 | CAR 4–2 WPG | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 3S |
Latest 12 of 20 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 12th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Carter Hart (.891)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ UTAOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to DLikely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ BUF1.5 ptsOpp allows 11th-most FP to DSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.910)
Kyle Connor
2games (1 left)
2.4proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs BOSOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ DET2.4 ptsOpp allows 13th-most FP to LWLikely vs John Gibson (.901)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Ian Cole or Kyle Connor in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Kyle Connor projects to 2.43 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30. Cole had 23 points in 82 games; Connor had 92 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, Ian Cole or Kyle Connor?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Kyle Connor leads in 22 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 Connor done against each other?
- In 20 games against each other in our data, Cole's team went 11–9. Cole had 2 points (0 goals) and Connor had 18 (10 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 →