Who to start · 2025-26
Jack Hughes vs Noah Cates
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jack Hughes projects to 2.55 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33.
Hughes had 77 points in 61 games; Cates had 47 in 82 games.
This week Hughes has 1 game left; Cates has 1 left. We project Hughes for 2.6 ESPN points to Cates's 1.5.
Jack Hughes has the better number in 24 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Hughes's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.55, Ascension score 51, Corsi 55.9%.
Cates's biggest edges: Hits 102, On-ice PDO 1026, Penalty minutes 44.
Head to head on the dot, Cates leads Hughes 25–18.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Jack Hughes
2.55
fantasy points per game
Noah Cates
1.33
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Jack Hughes has the edge.
| Points per game from | Hughes | Cates |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.95 | 0.39 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.77 | 0.31 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.18 | 0.05 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.38 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.01 | 0.11 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.25 | 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: Hughes vs Cates
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2022-23 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Hughes 5G 4A, 40 SOG · Cates 0G 5A, 16 SOG
Hughes's offensive zone 9–11 · neutral 6–8 · Hughes's defensive zone 3–6 (2022-23 to 2026-27)
Hughes blocked 1 of Cates's shots; Cates blocked 2 of Hughes's.
On the ice against each other (Hughes's side)
6:50 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27, from Hughes's side
- Shot attempts
- 5–3
- 62.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.2
- 29.3%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Hughes | Cates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-01 | NJD 3–2 PHI | 1G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-04-07 | NJD 1–5 PHI | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-01-29 | NJD 5–0 PHI | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-01-27 | NJD 2–4 PHI | 0G 1A 6S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-01-18 | NJD 1–3 PHI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2024-02-17 | NJD 6–3 PHI | 0G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-02-25 | NJD 7–0 PHI | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-12-15 | NJD 1–2 PHI | 1G 0A 8S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2022-12-03 | NJD 3–2 PHI | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2022-10-13 | NJD 2–5 PHI | 0G 0A 1S | 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.
Jack Hughes
2games (1 left)
2.6proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Thu, Oct 1 vs PHI
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NYI2.6 pts
Noah Cates
3games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Wed, Sep 30 vs PIT
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NJDB2B
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CAR1.5 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Jack Hughes or Noah Cates in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jack Hughes projects to 2.55 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33. Hughes had 77 points in 61 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 Hughes or Noah Cates?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Jack Hughes leads in 24 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Hughes and Cates done against each other?
- In 10 games against each other in our data, Hughes's team went 5–5. Hughes had 9 points (5 goals) and Cates had 5 (0 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Hughes or Cates?
- Against each other, Hughes has won 18 and Cates 25 of their 43 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 →