Edgehalla

Who to start · 2025-26

Ian Cole vs Mika Zibanejad

Ian ColeIan ColeBlackhawks · DefencevsMika ZibanejadMika ZibanejadRangers · Centre

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mika Zibanejad projects to 2.27 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30.

Cole had 23 points in 82 games; Zibanejad had 78 in 81 games.

This week Cole has 1 game left; Zibanejad has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Cole for 1.5 ESPN points to Zibanejad's 1.4.

Mika Zibanejad has the better number in 24 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

Cole's biggest edges: Plus/minus +16, Penalty minutes 50, Forecheck xG /60 0.39.

Zibanejad's biggest edges: Hardest shot 96.4, Power-play time per game 3:14, Power-play share 77.5%.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 6 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Ian Cole

1.30

fantasy points per game

Mika Zibanejad

2.27

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Mika Zibanejad has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromColeZibanejad
Goals (+2)0.060.81
Assists (+1)0.220.51
Power-play points (+0.5)0.000.21
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.010.01
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.070.25
Hits (+0.1)0.080.14
Blocks (+0.5)0.870.34

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 Zibanejad

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.

ColeZibanejad
15Team record in 25 meetings10
7Points in those games29

Cole 1G 6A, 11 SOG · Zibanejad 10G 19A, 71 SOG

2Hits on each other0
4Shots blocked by the other2

Cole blocked 4 of Zibanejad's shots; Zibanejad blocked 2 of Cole's.

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

5:23 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Cole's side

Shot attempts
2–9
18.2%
Expected goals
0.3–0.5
37.6%
Goals
0–1

Games against each other

Games between Ian Cole and Mika Zibanejad
DateScoreColeZibanejad
2026-01-05UTA 3–2 NYR0G 1A 0S0G 2A 1S
2025-11-22UTA 3–2 NYR0G 0A 1S0G 1A 3S
2025-01-16UTA 3–5 NYR0G 1A 0S0G 0A 0S
2024-10-12UTA 6–5 NYR0G 0A 2S0G 0A 1S
2024-01-08VAN 6–3 NYR0G 0A 0S0G 1A 0S
2023-10-28VAN 3–4 NYR0G 0A 0S1G 2A 3S
2023-04-05TBL 3–6 NYR0G 0A 0S0G 3A 3S
2022-12-29TBL 2–1 NYR0G 0A 0S1G 0A 3S
2022-05-30 · POCAR 2–6 NYR0G 0A 1S0G 3A 2S
2022-05-28 · POCAR 2–5 NYR0G 0A 0S1G 0A 2S
2022-05-26 · POCAR 3–1 NYR0G 0A 0S1G 0A 2S
2022-05-24 · POCAR 1–4 NYR0G 0A 0S1G 0A 3S

Latest 12 of 25 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.

ColeZibanejad

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)

Mika Zibanejad

4games (1 left)

1.4proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 @ BOS
    Opp allows 5th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
  • Thu, Oct 1 vs TBL
    Opp allows 11th-most FP to CLikely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
  • Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2B
    Opp allows 4th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs John Gibson (.901)
  • Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA1.4 pts
    Opp allows 2nd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Ian Cole or Mika Zibanejad in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mika Zibanejad projects to 2.27 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30. Cole had 23 points in 82 games; Zibanejad had 78 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 Mika Zibanejad?
On 2025-26 numbers, Mika Zibanejad 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 Zibanejad done against each other?
In 25 games against each other in our data, Cole's team went 15–10. Cole had 7 points (1 goals) and Zibanejad had 29 (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 →