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Who to start · 2025-26

Ian Cole vs Leo Carlsson

Ian ColeIan ColeBlackhawks · DefencevsLeo CarlssonLeo CarlssonDucks · Centre

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Leo Carlsson projects to 2.12 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30.

Cole had 23 points in 82 games; Carlsson had 67 in 70 games.

This week Cole has 1 game left; Carlsson has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Carlsson for 1.6 ESPN points to Cole's 1.5.

Leo Carlsson has the better number in 24 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

Cole's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.39, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.019, Hits 73.

Carlsson's biggest edges: Ascension score 59, Power-play time per game 3:23, 20+ mph bursts 197.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Ian Cole

1.30

fantasy points per game

Leo Carlsson

2.12

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Leo Carlsson has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromColeCarlsson
Goals (+2)0.060.90
Assists (+1)0.220.57
Power-play points (+0.5)0.000.12
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.010.02
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.070.26
Hits (+0.1)0.080.02
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 Carlsson

Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2023-24 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.

ColeCarlsson
3Team record in 7 meetings4
3Points in those games3

Cole 1G 2A, 6 SOG · Carlsson 1G 2A, 12 SOG

0Shots blocked by the other1

Cole blocked 0 of Carlsson's shots; Carlsson blocked 1 of Cole's.

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

10:54 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Cole's side

Shot attempts
13–12
52.0%
Expected goals
0.6–0.7
45.9%
Goals
2–0

Games against each other

Games between Ian Cole and Leo Carlsson
DateScoreColeCarlsson
2026-03-20UTA 1–4 ANA0G 0A 1S0G 0A 2S
2025-12-03UTA 7–0 ANA1G 1A 2S0G 0A 1S
2025-11-17UTA 2–3 ANA0G 0A 0S0G 0A 2S
2025-03-12UTA 3–2 ANA0G 1A 1S0G 1A 2S
2024-12-22UTA 4–5 ANA0G 0A 1S0G 0A 0S
2024-10-16UTA 4–5 ANA0G 0A 0S1G 1A 4S
2024-03-31VAN 3–2 ANA0G 0A 1S0G 0A 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.

ColeCarlsson

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%vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.910)

Leo Carlsson

2games (1 left)

1.6proj. ESPN pts

  • Fri, Oct 2 @ VGK
    Opp allows 14th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Carter Hart (.891)
  • Sun, Oct 4 vs FLA1.6 pts
    Opp allows 10th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jacob Markstrom (.883)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Ian Cole or Leo Carlsson in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Leo Carlsson projects to 2.12 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30. Cole had 23 points in 82 games; Carlsson had 67 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 Leo Carlsson?
On 2025-26 numbers, Leo Carlsson leads in 24 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 Carlsson done against each other?
In 7 games against each other in our data, Cole's team went 3–4. Cole had 3 points (1 goals) and Carlsson had 3 (1 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 →