Who to start · 2025-26
Ian Cole vs Nathan MacKinnon
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nathan MacKinnon projects to 3.32 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30.
Cole had 23 points in 82 games; MacKinnon had 127 in 80 games.
This week Cole has 1 game left; MacKinnon has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project MacKinnon for 2.2 ESPN points to Cole's 1.5.
Nathan MacKinnon has the better number in 27 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Cole's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 −0.019, Blocked shots 151, Shorthanded points 1.
MacKinnon's biggest edges: Power-play time per game 4:13, Offensive-zone time 46.6%, 20+ mph bursts 455.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 8 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Ian Cole
1.30
fantasy points per game
Nathan MacKinnon
3.32
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nathan MacKinnon has the edge.
| Points per game from | Cole | MacKinnon |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.06 | 1.49 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.22 | 0.87 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.21 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.46 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.09 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.87 | 0.21 |
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 MacKinnon
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, 19 SOG · MacKinnon 9G 21A, 95 SOG
Cole blocked 2 of MacKinnon's shots; MacKinnon blocked 0 of Cole's.
Goals each scored with the other picking up an assist (as teammates).
On the ice against each other (Cole's side)
9:18 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Cole's side
- Shot attempts
- 13–9
- 59.1%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.4
- 55.1%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cole | MacKinnon |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-23 | UTA 0–1 COL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-10-21 | UTA 4–3 COL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 8S |
| 2025-10-09 | UTA 1–2 COL | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2024-12-27 | UTA 1–4 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 3A 4S |
| 2024-12-12 | UTA 4–1 COL | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2024-10-24 | UTA 1–5 COL | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2024-03-13 | VAN 3–4 COL | 0G 1A 0S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2024-02-20 | VAN 1–3 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 10S |
| 2023-11-22 | VAN 2–5 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 7S |
| 2023-02-14 | TBL 4–3 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 7S |
| 2023-02-09 | TBL 5–0 COL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-04-16 | CAR 4–7 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 2G 0A 5S |
Latest 12 of 23 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)
Nathan MacKinnon
2games (1 left)
2.2proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows the most FP to CLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL2.2 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Ian Cole or Nathan MacKinnon in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nathan MacKinnon projects to 3.32 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30. Cole had 23 points in 82 games; MacKinnon had 127 in 80 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 Nathan MacKinnon?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nathan MacKinnon leads in 27 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 MacKinnon done against each other?
- In 23 games against each other in our data, Cole's team went 9–14. Cole had 5 points (0 goals) and MacKinnon had 30 (9 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 →