Who to start · 2025-26
Ian Cole vs Tomas Hertl
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Tomas Hertl projects to 1.88 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30.
Cole had 23 points in 82 games; Hertl had 58 in 82 games.
This week Cole has 1 game left; Hertl has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Hertl for 2.0 ESPN points to Cole's 1.5.
Tomas Hertl has the better number in 24 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Cole's biggest edges: Forecheck xG /60 0.39, Plus/minus +16, Luck Meter +23.
Hertl's biggest edges: Ascension score 61, Power-play time per game 3:24, Offensive-zone time 47.7%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 9 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Ian Cole
1.30
fantasy points per game
Tomas Hertl
1.88
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Tomas Hertl has the edge.
| Points per game from | Cole | Hertl |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.06 | 0.63 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.22 | 0.37 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.17 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.27 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.14 |
| 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 Hertl
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 3G 11A, 41 SOG · Hertl 8G 22A, 102 SOG
Cole blocked 5 of Hertl's shots; Hertl blocked 4 of Cole's.
On the ice against each other (Cole's side)
42:28 at 5-on-5 over 10 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27, from Cole's side
- Shot attempts
- 33–50
- 39.8%
- Expected goals
- 1.4–2.2
- 39.1%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cole | Hertl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-29 | CHI 2–5 VGK | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2026-05-01 · PO | UTA 1–5 VGK | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-04-29 · PO | UTA 4–5 VGK | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2026-04-27 · PO | UTA 4–5 VGK | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-04-24 · PO | UTA 4–2 VGK | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-04-21 · PO | UTA 3–2 VGK | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-04-19 · PO | UTA 2–4 VGK | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2026-03-19 | UTA 4–0 VGK | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-11-24 | UTA 5–1 VGK | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-11-20 | UTA 1–4 VGK | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2024-11-30 | UTA 6–0 VGK | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2024-11-15 | UTA 2–4 VGK | 0G 0A 2S | 2G 0A 3S |
Latest 12 of 43 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)
Tomas Hertl
3games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs CHIOpp allows 8th-most FP to CLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs ANAOpp allows 9th-most FP to CLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ VAN2.0 ptsOpp allows 6th-most FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Ian Cole or Tomas Hertl in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Tomas Hertl projects to 1.88 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30. Cole had 23 points in 82 games; Hertl had 58 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 Tomas Hertl?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Tomas Hertl leads in 24 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 Hertl done against each other?
- In 43 games against each other in our data, Cole's team went 22–21. Cole had 14 points (3 goals) and Hertl had 30 (8 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 →