Edgehalla

Who to start · 2025-26

Ian Cole vs Martin Necas

Ian ColeIan ColeBlackhawks · DefencevsMartin NecasMartin NecasAvalanche · Centre

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Martin Necas projects to 2.40 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30.

Cole had 23 points in 82 games; Necas had 100 in 78 games.

This week Cole has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Necas has 1 left. We project Necas for 2.1 ESPN points to Cole's 1.5.

Martin Necas has the better number in 28 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

Cole's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 −0.019, Faceoffs won 0, Blocked shots 151.

Necas's biggest edges: Power-play time per game 4:00, Hardest shot 93.4, 20+ mph bursts 348.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Ian Cole

1.30

fantasy points per game

Martin Necas

2.40

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Martin Necas has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromColeNecas
Goals (+2)0.060.91
Assists (+1)0.220.81
Power-play points (+0.5)0.000.14
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.010.00
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.070.27
Hits (+0.1)0.080.11
Blocks (+0.5)0.870.16

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

Ian Cole and Martin Necas have no head-to-head events in our data yet (regular season and playoffs since 2019-20).

Every stat, side by side

Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.

ColeNecas

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 5th-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 8th-most FP to DSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.910)

Martin Necas

2games (1 left)

2.1proj. ESPN pts

  • Wed, Sep 30 vs LAK
    Opp allows the most FP to CLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs STL2.1 pts
    Schedule edge +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Ian Cole or Martin Necas in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Martin Necas projects to 2.40 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30. Cole had 23 points in 82 games; Necas had 100 in 78 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 Martin Necas?
On 2025-26 numbers, Martin Necas leads in 28 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.

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 →