Who to start · 2025-26
Ian Cole vs Quinn Hughes
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Quinn Hughes projects to 2.16 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30.
Cole had 23 points in 82 games; Hughes had 76 in 74 games.
This week Cole has 1 game left; Hughes has 1 left. We project Hughes for 2.2 ESPN points to Cole's 1.4.
Quinn Hughes has the better number in 22 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Cole's biggest edges: Hits 73, Luck Meter +23, Forecheck xG /60 0.39.
Hughes's biggest edges: Power-play time per game 4:03, Ascension score 57, Offensive-zone time 46.7%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Ian Cole
1.30
fantasy points per game
Quinn Hughes
2.16
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Quinn Hughes has the edge.
| Points per game from | Cole | Hughes |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.06 | 0.18 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.22 | 0.94 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.22 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.27 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.01 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.87 | 0.55 |
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 Hughes
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2019-20 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Cole 0G 0A, 10 SOG · Hughes 3G 8A, 25 SOG
Cole blocked 2 of Hughes's shots; Hughes blocked 1 of Cole's.
On the ice against each other (Cole's side)
15:11 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Cole's side
- Shot attempts
- 17–16
- 51.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.9–0.6
- 58.7%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cole | Hughes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-10 | UTA 0–5 MIN | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2026-02-27 | UTA 5–2 MIN | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-12-05 | UTA 4–1 VAN | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-03-16 | UTA 3–1 VAN | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2024-12-18 | UTA 3–2 VAN | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 2A 6S |
| 2023-01-18 | TBL 5–2 VAN | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2023-01-12 | TBL 5–4 VAN | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 2A 1S |
| 2022-01-15 | CAR 4–1 VAN | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2021-12-12 | CAR 1–2 VAN | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2020-03-06 | COL 3–6 VAN | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2019-11-16 | COL 5–4 VAN | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 2A 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 pts
Quinn Hughes
2games (1 left)
2.2proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NSH
- Sat, Oct 3 vs BOS2.2 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Ian Cole or Quinn Hughes in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Quinn Hughes projects to 2.16 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30. Cole had 23 points in 82 games; Hughes had 76 in 74 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 Quinn Hughes?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Quinn Hughes leads in 22 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 Hughes done against each other?
- In 11 games against each other in our data, Cole's team went 8–3. Cole had 0 points (0 goals) and Hughes had 11 (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 →