Who to start · 2025-26
Ian Cole vs Wyatt Johnston
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Wyatt Johnston projects to 2.41 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30.
Cole had 23 points in 82 games; Johnston had 86 in 82 games.
This week Cole has 1 game left; Johnston has 1 left. We project Johnston for 2.5 ESPN points to Cole's 1.4.
Wyatt Johnston has the better number in 23 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Cole's biggest edges: Fenwick 51.7%, Forecheck xG /60 0.39, Plus/minus +16.
Johnston's biggest edges: Power-play time per game 3:30, Power-play share 74.1%, Goals above expected +4.9.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Ian Cole
1.30
fantasy points per game
Wyatt Johnston
2.41
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Wyatt Johnston has the edge.
| Points per game from | Cole | Johnston |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.06 | 1.03 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.22 | 0.47 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.24 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.26 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.07 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.87 | 0.35 |
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 Johnston
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2022-23 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Cole 1G 3A, 16 SOG · Johnston 4G 5A, 39 SOG
Cole blocked 1 of Johnston's shots; Johnston blocked 0 of Cole's.
On the ice against each other (Cole's side)
10:15 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Cole's side
- Shot attempts
- 5–14
- 26.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.9
- 25.7%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cole | Johnston |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-16 | UTA 6–3 DAL | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2026-01-31 | UTA 2–3 DAL | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 6S |
| 2026-01-15 | UTA 2–1 DAL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-11-28 | UTA 3–4 DAL | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-04-12 | UTA 5–3 DAL | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-01-04 | UTA 2–3 DAL | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2024-12-23 | UTA 2–3 DAL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-12-02 | UTA 1–2 DAL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-03-28 | VAN 1–3 DAL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2023-12-21 | VAN 3–4 DAL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2023-11-04 | VAN 2–0 DAL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2023-02-11 | TBL 3–1 DAL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 13 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)
1.4proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Tue, Sep 29 @ VGK
- Thu, Oct 1 @ UTA
- Sat, Oct 3 @ BUF1.4 pts
Wyatt Johnston
2games (1 left)
2.5proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs STL
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NSHB2B2.5 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Ian Cole or Wyatt Johnston in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Wyatt Johnston projects to 2.41 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ian Cole's 1.30. Cole had 23 points in 82 games; Johnston had 86 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 Wyatt Johnston?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Wyatt Johnston leads in 23 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 Johnston done against each other?
- In 13 games against each other in our data, Cole's team went 6–7. Cole had 4 points (1 goals) and Johnston had 9 (4 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 →