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Who to start · 2025-26

Ian Cole vs William Eklund

Ian ColeIan ColeBlackhawks · DefencevsWilliam EklundWilliam EklundSharks · Left wing

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, William Eklund projects to 1.62 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30.

Cole had 23 points in 82 games; Eklund had 53 in 78 games.

This week Cole has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Eklund has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Eklund for 1.9 ESPN points to Cole's 1.5.

William Eklund has the better number in 17 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.

Cole's biggest edges: Plus/minus +16, Forecheck xG /60 0.39, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.019.

Eklund's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 45.9%, Power-play time per game 2:51, Hardest shot 89.3.

  • • 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

William Eklund

1.62

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, William Eklund has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromColeEklund
Goals (+2)0.070.38
Assists (+1)0.240.49
Power-play points (+0.5)0.000.10
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.010.00
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.080.23
Hits (+0.1)0.090.09
Blocks (+0.5)0.920.33

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 Eklund

Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2023-24 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.

ColeEklund
6Team record in 10 meetings4
4Points in those games4

Cole 0G 4A, 10 SOG · Eklund 0G 4A, 19 SOG

0Hits on each other1
1Shots blocked by the other0

Cole blocked 1 of Eklund's shots; Eklund blocked 0 of Cole's.

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

11:53 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Cole's side

Shot attempts
11–14
44.0%
Expected goals
0.3–0.6
35.9%
Goals
1–0

Games against each other

Games between Ian Cole and William Eklund
DateScoreColeEklund
2025-12-01UTA 3–6 SJS0G 0A 0S0G 1A 4S
2025-11-18UTA 2–3 SJS0G 0A 1S0G 1A 2S
2025-10-17UTA 6–3 SJS0G 1A 0S0G 0A 2S
2025-01-10UTA 2–1 SJS0G 0A 1S0G 0A 2S
2024-12-14UTA 4–3 SJS0G 0A 0S0G 1A 1S
2024-10-28UTA 4–5 SJS0G 2A 2S0G 1A 1S
2023-12-23VAN 7–4 SJS0G 1A 4S0G 0A 3S
2023-11-25VAN 3–4 SJS0G 0A 1S0G 0A 1S
2023-11-20VAN 3–1 SJS0G 0A 1S0G 0A 2S
2023-11-02VAN 10–1 SJS0G 0A 0S0G 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.

ColeEklund

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)

1.5proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 @ VGK
    Opp allows 5th-fewest FP to D
  • Thu, Oct 1 @ UTA
    Opp allows 2nd-fewest FP to D
  • Sat, Oct 3 @ BUF1.5 pts
    Opp allows 8th-most FP to DSchedule edge −1.0 win%

William Eklund

2games (1 left)

1.9proj. ESPN pts

  • Thu, Oct 1 vs FLA
    Opp allows 13th-most FP to LW
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs LAK1.9 pts
    Opp allows the most FP to LW

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Ian Cole or William Eklund in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, William Eklund projects to 1.62 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30. Cole had 23 points in 82 games; Eklund had 53 in 78 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 William Eklund?
On 2025-26 numbers, William Eklund leads in 17 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 Eklund done against each other?
In 10 games against each other in our data, Cole's team went 6–4. Cole had 4 points (0 goals) and Eklund had 4 (0 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 →