Who to start · 2025-26
Ian Cole vs Mikko Rantanen
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mikko Rantanen projects to 2.21 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30.
Cole had 23 points in 82 games; Rantanen had 77 in 64 games.
This week Cole has 1 game left; Rantanen has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Rantanen for 1.6 ESPN points to Cole's 1.5.
Mikko Rantanen has the better number in 21 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Cole's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 −0.019, Forecheck xG /60 0.39, Fenwick 51.7%.
Rantanen's biggest edges: Power-play time per game 3:54, Power-play share 82.8%, Ascension score 54.
- • 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, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Ian Cole
1.30
fantasy points per game
Mikko Rantanen
2.21
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mikko Rantanen has the edge.
| Points per game from | Cole | Rantanen |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.06 | 0.64 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.22 | 0.81 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.25 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.21 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.87 | 0.22 |
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 Rantanen
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 5A, 23 SOG · Rantanen 11G 22A, 81 SOG
Cole blocked 4 of Rantanen's shots; Rantanen blocked 1 of Cole's.
Goals each scored with the other picking up an assist (as teammates).
On the ice against each other (Cole's side)
5:05 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Cole's side
- Shot attempts
- 1–13
- 7.1%
- Expected goals
- 0.0–0.8
- 3.2%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cole | Rantanen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-31 | UTA 2–3 DAL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2026-01-15 | UTA 2–1 DAL | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-11-28 | UTA 3–4 DAL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2025-04-12 | UTA 5–3 DAL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2024-12-27 | UTA 1–4 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-12-12 | UTA 4–1 COL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2024-10-24 | UTA 1–5 COL | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2024-03-13 | VAN 3–4 COL | 0G 1A 0S | 1G 1A 5S |
| 2024-02-20 | VAN 1–3 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-11-22 | VAN 2–5 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2023-02-14 | TBL 4–3 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2023-02-09 | TBL 5–0 COL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 4S |
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.
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%vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.910)
Mikko Rantanen
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs STLOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Joel Hofer (.910)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NSHB2B1.6 ptsOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge −13.3 win%Likely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Ian Cole or Mikko Rantanen in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mikko Rantanen projects to 2.21 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30. Cole had 23 points in 82 games; Rantanen had 77 in 64 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 Mikko Rantanen?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mikko Rantanen leads in 21 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 Rantanen done against each other?
- In 25 games against each other in our data, Cole's team went 10–15. Cole had 5 points (0 goals) and Rantanen had 33 (11 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 →