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Who to start · 2025-26

Ian Cole vs Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

Ian ColeIan ColeBlackhawks · DefencevsRyan Nugent-HopkinsRyan Nugent-HopkinsOilers · Centre

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins projects to 1.70 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30.

Cole had 23 points in 82 games; Nugent-Hopkins had 56 in 72 games.

This week Cole has 1 game left; Nugent-Hopkins has 1 left. We project Nugent-Hopkins for 1.4 ESPN points to Cole's 1.3.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has the better number in 18 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.

Cole's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 −0.019, Plus/minus +16, Hits 73.

Nugent-Hopkins's biggest edges: Power-play time per game 3:30, Offensive-zone time 46.0%, Power-play share 86.6%.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Ian Cole

1.41

fantasy points per game

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

1.70

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromColeNugent-Hopkins
Goals (+2)0.070.56
Assists (+1)0.240.50
Power-play points (+0.5)0.000.20
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.010.01
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.080.18
Hits (+0.1)0.090.03
Blocks (+0.5)0.920.22

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 Nugent-Hopkins

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.

ColeNugent-Hopkins
14Team record in 27 meetings13
8Points in those games34

Cole 1G 7A, 22 SOG · Nugent-Hopkins 15G 19A, 64 SOG

2Hits on each other3
4Shots blocked by the other1

Cole blocked 4 of Nugent-Hopkins's shots; Nugent-Hopkins blocked 1 of Cole's.

1Penalties drawn off the other0

On the ice against each other (Cole's side)

16:47 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Cole's side

Shot attempts
28–16
63.6%
Expected goals
0.9–0.5
66.0%
Goals
2–2

Games against each other

Games between Ian Cole and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
DateScoreColeNugent-Hopkins
2026-04-07UTA 6–5 EDM0G 1A 1S1G 0A 3S
2026-03-24UTA 2–5 EDM0G 1A 0S0G 1A 2S
2025-10-28UTA 3–6 EDM0G 0A 2S0G 1A 1S
2025-03-18UTA 1–7 EDM0G 0A 0S1G 2A 4S
2024-12-31UTA 1–4 EDM0G 0A 1S1G 0A 3S
2024-11-29UTA 3–4 EDM0G 0A 1S1G 0A 3S
2024-05-20 · POVAN 2–3 EDM0G 0A 0S1G 1A 3S
2024-05-18 · POVAN 1–5 EDM0G 0A 0S1G 2A 1S
2024-05-16 · POVAN 3–2 EDM0G 0A 1S0G 0A 0S
2024-05-14 · POVAN 2–3 EDM0G 0A 0S1G 0A 2S
2024-05-12 · POVAN 4–3 EDM0G 0A 0S0G 1A 1S
2024-05-10 · POVAN 3–4 EDM0G 0A 0S0G 1A 3S

Latest 12 of 27 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.

ColeNugent-Hopkins

Fantasy box score

Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

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)

1.3proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 @ VGK
  • Thu, Oct 1 @ UTA
  • Sat, Oct 3 @ BUF1.3 pts
    Schedule edge −1.0 win%

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

3games (1 left)

1.4proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 vs VAN
  • Thu, Oct 1 @ VAN
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.4 pts

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Ian Cole or Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins projects to 1.70 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30. Cole had 23 points in 82 games; Nugent-Hopkins had 56 in 72 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 Ryan Nugent-Hopkins?
On 2025-26 numbers, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins leads in 18 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
How have Cole and Nugent-Hopkins done against each other?
In 27 games against each other in our data, Cole's team went 14–13. Cole had 8 points (1 goals) and Nugent-Hopkins had 34 (15 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 →