Edgehalla

Who to start · 2025-26

Jake McCabe vs Noah Cates

Jake McCabeJake McCabeMaple Leafs · DefencevsNoah CatesNoah CatesFlyers · Left wing

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jake McCabe projects to 1.75 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33.

McCabe had 25 points in 80 games; Cates had 47 in 82 games.

This week McCabe has 1 game left; Cates has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project McCabe for 1.7 ESPN points to Cates's 1.5.

Noah Cates has the better number in 24 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

McCabe's biggest edges: 20+ mph bursts 62, Top skating speed 22.7, Transition attempts /60 0.45.

Cates's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 58.9%, Expected goals 53.9%, Sequence xG 53.6%.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Jake McCabe

1.75

fantasy points per game

Noah Cates

1.33

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Jake McCabe has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromMcCabeCates
Goals (+2)0.110.39
Assists (+1)0.220.31
Power-play points (+0.5)0.000.05
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.000.01
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.100.16
Hits (+0.1)0.130.11
Blocks (+0.5)1.190.30

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: McCabe vs Cates

Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.

McCabeCates
7Team record in 9 meetings2
6Points in those games4

McCabe 1G 5A, 7 SOG · Cates 1G 3A, 15 SOG

0Hits on each other3

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

6:00 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from McCabe's side

Shot attempts
6–3
66.7%
Expected goals
0.2–0.2
47.2%
Goals
0–0

Games against each other

Games between Jake McCabe and Noah Cates
DateScoreMcCabeCates
2026-03-02TOR 2–3 PHI0G 0A 0S1G 1A 1S
2025-11-01TOR 5–2 PHI1G 0A 2S0G 0A 5S
2025-03-25TOR 7–2 PHI0G 1A 1S0G 0A 1S
2025-01-05TOR 3–2 PHI0G 0A 0S0G 1A 3S
2024-03-19TOR 3–4 PHI0G 0A 0S0G 0A 1S
2024-03-14TOR 6–2 PHI0G 1A 0S0G 0A 1S
2024-02-15TOR 4–3 PHI0G 0A 2S0G 1A 3S
2023-01-19CHI 4–1 PHI0G 2A 2S0G 0A 0S
2022-04-25CHI 3–1 PHI0G 1A 0S0G 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.

McCabeCates

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.

Jake McCabe

3games (1 left)

1.7proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 vs MTL
    Opp allows 7th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
  • Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2B
    Opp allows 16th-most FP to DSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT1.7 pts
    Likely vs Linus Ullmark (.891)

Noah Cates

3games (1 left)

1.5proj. ESPN pts

  • Wed, Sep 30 vs PIT
    Opp allows the fewest FP to LWLikely vs Arturs Silovs (.888)
  • Thu, Oct 1 @ NJDB2B
    Opp allows 9th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Jake Allen (.904)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs CAR1.5 pts
    Opp allows 9th-most FP to LWSchedule edge +12.9 win%Likely vs Pyotr Kochetkov (.899)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Jake McCabe or Noah Cates in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Jake McCabe projects to 1.75 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33. McCabe had 25 points in 80 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, Jake McCabe or Noah Cates?
On 2025-26 numbers, Noah Cates leads in 24 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
How have McCabe and Cates done against each other?
In 9 games against each other in our data, McCabe's team went 7–2. McCabe had 6 points (1 goals) and Cates had 4 (1 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 →