Who to start · 2025-26
Ian Cole vs Pavel Buchnevich
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Ian Cole projects to 1.30 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Buchnevich's 1.30.
Cole had 23 points in 82 games; Buchnevich had 48 in 81 games.
This week Cole has 1 game left; Buchnevich has 1 left. We project Cole for 1.4 ESPN points to Buchnevich's 1.4.
Pavel Buchnevich has the better number in 18 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Cole's biggest edges: Plus/minus +16, Transition attempts /60 0.50, Hits 73.
Buchnevich's biggest edges: Power-play time per game 2:20, Hardest shot 88.9, Power-play share 53.8%.
- • 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, 0 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Ian Cole
1.30
fantasy points per game
Pavel Buchnevich
1.30
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Ian Cole has the edge.
| Points per game from | Cole | Buchnevich |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.06 | 0.46 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.22 | 0.32 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.08 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.87 | 0.23 |
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 Buchnevich
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 1G 6A, 23 SOG · Buchnevich 13G 8A, 49 SOG
Cole blocked 3 of Buchnevich's shots; Buchnevich blocked 0 of Cole's.
On the ice against each other (Cole's side)
11:11 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Cole's side
- Shot attempts
- 10–8
- 55.6%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.2
- 67.5%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cole | Buchnevich |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-16 | UTA 3–5 STL | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2026-01-09 | UTA 4–2 STL | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-11-29 | UTA 0–1 STL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-10-23 | UTA 7–4 STL | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-04-15 | UTA 1–6 STL | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 2A 2S |
| 2025-02-02 | UTA 1–2 STL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2025-01-18 | UTA 4–2 STL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-11-07 | UTA 4–2 STL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2024-01-24 | VAN 3–4 STL | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2024-01-04 | VAN 1–2 STL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-10-27 | VAN 5–0 STL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-01-14 | TBL 4–2 STL | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 1S |
Latest 12 of 21 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)
1.4proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Tue, Sep 29 @ VGK
- Thu, Oct 1 @ UTA
- Sat, Oct 3 @ BUF1.4 pts
Pavel Buchnevich
2games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Fri, Oct 2 @ DAL
- Sat, Oct 3 @ COLB2B1.4 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Ian Cole or Pavel Buchnevich in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Ian Cole projects to 1.30 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Pavel Buchnevich's 1.30. Cole had 23 points in 82 games; Buchnevich had 48 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 Pavel Buchnevich?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Pavel Buchnevich leads in 18 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 Buchnevich done against each other?
- In 21 games against each other in our data, Cole's team went 13–8. Cole had 7 points (1 goals) and Buchnevich had 21 (13 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 →