Who to start · 2025-26
Ian Cole vs Nick Schmaltz
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nick Schmaltz projects to 2.05 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30.
Cole had 23 points in 82 games; Schmaltz had 74 in 82 games.
This week Cole has 1 game left; Schmaltz has 2 left. We project Schmaltz for 3.1 ESPN points to Cole's 1.5.
Nick Schmaltz has the better number in 29 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Cole's biggest edges: Hits 73, Transition attempts /60 0.50, Forecheck xG /60 0.39.
Schmaltz's biggest edges: Power-play time per game 3:08, Offensive-zone time 45.4%, 20+ mph bursts 208.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Ian Cole
1.30
fantasy points per game
Nick Schmaltz
2.05
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Nick Schmaltz has the edge.
| Points per game from | Cole | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.06 | 0.88 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.22 | 0.47 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.11 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.25 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.87 | 0.30 |
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 Schmaltz
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Cole 0G 2A, 13 SOG · Schmaltz 3G 6A, 29 SOG
Cole blocked 3 of Schmaltz's shots; Schmaltz blocked 0 of Cole's.
On the ice against each other (Cole's side)
5:07 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2026-27, from Cole's side
- Shot attempts
- 5–3
- 62.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.1
- 66.2%
- Goals
- 0–0
On the ice together
261:02 at 5-on-5 over 87 games, 2025-26
- Shot attempts
- 239–240
- 49.9%
- Expected goals
- 12.2–10.8
- 53.0%
- Goals
- 14–13
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cole | Schmaltz |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-01 | CHI 0–6 UTA | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2024-04-10 | VAN 3–4 ARI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-04-03 | VAN 2–1 ARI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-02-15 | TBL 0–1 ARI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2021-04-21 | MIN 4–1 ARI | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2021-04-19 | MIN 5–2 ARI | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2021-03-14 | MIN 4–1 ARI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2021-03-12 | MIN 4–0 ARI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2021-03-06 | MIN 2–5 ARI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2021-03-05 | MIN 5–1 ARI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2021-04-14 | MIN 5–2 ARI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2021-03-16 | MIN 3–0 ARI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
Latest 12 of 16 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)
Nick Schmaltz
3games (2 left)
3.1proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs CHIOpp allows 8th-most FP to CLikely vs Arvid Soderblom (.880)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ CBJ1.7 ptsOpp allows 16th-most FP to CSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ NYRB2B1.4 ptsOpp allows 15th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Ian Cole or Nick Schmaltz in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nick Schmaltz projects to 2.05 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30. Cole had 23 points in 82 games; Schmaltz had 74 in 82 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 Nick Schmaltz?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Nick Schmaltz leads in 29 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 Schmaltz done against each other?
- In 16 games against each other in our data, Cole's team went 8–8. Cole had 2 points (0 goals) and Schmaltz had 9 (3 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 →