Who to start · 2025-26
Ian Cole vs Noah Cates
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Noah Cates projects to 1.33 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30.
Cole had 23 points in 82 games; Cates had 47 in 82 games.
This week Cole has 1 game left; Cates has 1 left. We project Cates for 1.5 ESPN points to Cole's 1.4.
Noah Cates has the better number in 20 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Cole's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.39, Fenwick 51.7%, Transition attempts /60 0.50.
Cates's biggest edges: Power-play time per game 2:02, Power-play share 44.7%, On-ice PDO 1026.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Ian Cole
1.30
fantasy points per game
Noah Cates
1.33
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Noah Cates has the edge.
| Points per game from | Cole | Cates |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.06 | 0.39 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.22 | 0.31 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.05 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.11 |
| 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 Cates
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2022-23 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Cole 1G 1A, 8 SOG · Cates 1G 0A, 9 SOG
On the ice against each other (Cole's side)
10:10 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Cole's side
- Shot attempts
- 13–3
- 81.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.0
- 94.6%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cole | Cates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-05 | UTA 3–0 PHI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-01-21 | UTA 5–4 PHI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-02-04 | UTA 3–2 PHI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-12-08 | UTA 4–2 PHI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-10-17 | VAN 0–2 PHI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-03-07 | TBL 5–2 PHI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-12-01 | TBL 4–1 PHI | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-10-18 | TBL 2–3 PHI | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 1S |
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)
1.4proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Tue, Sep 29 @ VGK
- Thu, Oct 1 @ UTA
- Sat, Oct 3 @ BUF1.4 ptsSchedule edge −1.0 win%
Noah Cates
3games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Wed, Sep 30 vs PIT
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NJDB2BSchedule edge −9.3 win%
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CAR1.5 ptsSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Ian Cole or Noah Cates in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Noah Cates projects to 1.33 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30. Cole had 23 points in 82 games; Cates had 47 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 Noah Cates?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Noah Cates leads in 20 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 Cates done against each other?
- In 8 games against each other in our data, Cole's team went 6–2. Cole had 2 points (1 goals) and Cates had 1 (1 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 →