Who to start · 2025-26
Jack Eichel vs Noah Cates
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jack Eichel projects to 2.65 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33.
Eichel had 90 points in 74 games; Cates had 47 in 82 games.
This week Eichel has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Cates has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Eichel for 2.9 ESPN points to Cates's 1.5.
Jack Eichel has the better number in 28 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Eichel's biggest edges: Ascension score 62, 20+ mph bursts 370, Hardest shot 94.6.
Cates's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.031, Penalty minutes 44, Hits 102.
Head to head on the dot, Cates leads Eichel 15–8.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 4 A, 2 PPP, 4 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Jack Eichel
2.65
fantasy points per game
Noah Cates
1.33
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Jack Eichel has the edge.
| Points per game from | Eichel | Cates |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.76 | 0.39 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.99 | 0.31 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.23 | 0.05 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.33 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.11 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.27 | 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: Eichel vs Cates
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.
Eichel 1G 10A, 20 SOG · Cates 1G 1A, 9 SOG
Eichel's offensive zone 1–7 · neutral 3–4 · Eichel's defensive zone 4–4 (2022-23 to 2025-26)
Eichel blocked 1 of Cates's shots; Cates blocked 0 of Eichel's.
On the ice against each other (Eichel's side)
7:06 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Eichel's side
- Shot attempts
- 3–7
- 30.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.1
- 46.9%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Eichel | Cates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-19 | VGK 1–2 PHI | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-12-11 | VGK 3–2 PHI | 0G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-01-02 | VGK 5–2 PHI | 0G 2A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-11-25 | VGK 5–4 PHI | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-11-18 | VGK 3–4 PHI | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-10-24 | VGK 3–2 PHI | 0G 2A 4S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2023-03-14 | VGK 5–3 PHI | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-12-09 | VGK 2–1 PHI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
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.
Jack Eichel
3games (1 left)
2.9proj. 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 @ VAN2.9 ptsOpp allows 6th-most FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
Noah Cates
3games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs PITOpp allows the fewest FP to LWLikely vs Arturs Silovs (.888)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NJDB2BOpp allows 9th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Jake Allen (.904)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CAR1.5 ptsOpp allows 9th-most FP to LWSchedule edge +12.9 win%Likely vs Pyotr Kochetkov (.899)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Jack Eichel or Noah Cates in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jack Eichel projects to 2.65 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33. Eichel had 90 points in 74 games; Cates had 47 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, Jack Eichel or Noah Cates?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Jack Eichel leads in 28 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Eichel and Cates done against each other?
- In 8 games against each other in our data, Eichel's team went 6–2. Eichel had 11 points (1 goals) and Cates had 2 (1 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Eichel or Cates?
- Against each other, Eichel has won 8 and Cates 15 of their 23 head-to-head draws.
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 →