Who to start · 2025-26
Ian Cole vs Will Smith
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Will Smith projects to 1.94 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30.
Cole had 23 points in 82 games; Smith had 59 in 69 games.
This week Cole has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Smith has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Smith for 1.9 ESPN points to Cole's 1.5.
Will Smith has the better number in 19 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Cole's biggest edges: Blocked shots 151, High-danger chances 56.7%, Faceoffs won 0.
Smith's biggest edges: Ascension score 64, Power-play time per game 3:14, Hardest shot 90.3.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Ian Cole
1.30
fantasy points per game
Will Smith
1.94
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Will Smith has the edge.
| Points per game from | Cole | Smith |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.06 | 0.90 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.22 | 0.54 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.15 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.87 | 0.08 |
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 Smith
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2024-25 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Cole 0G 1A, 2 SOG · Smith 2G 4A, 10 SOG
Cole blocked 0 of Smith's shots; Smith blocked 1 of Cole's.
On the ice against each other (Cole's side)
10:39 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Cole's side
- Shot attempts
- 12–10
- 54.5%
- Expected goals
- 1.1–0.3
- 79.3%
- Goals
- 3–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cole | Smith |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-01 | UTA 3–6 SJS | 0G 0A 0S | 2G 1A 5S |
| 2025-11-18 | UTA 2–3 SJS | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2025-10-17 | UTA 6–3 SJS | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-01-10 | UTA 2–1 SJS | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-12-14 | UTA 4–3 SJS | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 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)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 @ VGKOpp allows 5th-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 8th-most FP to DSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (.910)
Will Smith
2games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs FLAOpp allows 9th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Akira Schmid (.892)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs LAK1.9 ptsOpp allows the most FP to CLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Ian Cole or Will Smith in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Will Smith projects to 1.94 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30. Cole had 23 points in 82 games; Smith had 59 in 69 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 Will Smith?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Will Smith leads in 19 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 Smith done against each other?
- In 5 games against each other in our data, Cole's team went 3–2. Cole had 1 points (0 goals) and Smith had 6 (2 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 →