Who to start · 2026-27
Jeff Malott vs Noah Cates
In 2026-27, Jeff Malott scored 1.13 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 0.87.
Malott had 6 points in 19 games; Cates had 5 in 22 games.
This week Malott has 1 game left; Cates has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. In ESPN default points scoring we project Malott for 1.0 to Cates's 0.9 over the games left.
Jeff Malott has the better number in 2 of the 2 stats both are ranked on.
Malott's biggest edges: Luck Meter +14, Ascension score 70.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Jeff Malott rates ahead, -1.9 to -4.5 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: Malott is steady, 0% of 5v5 TOI with top players (was 22%); Cates is steady, +1:43 5v5 TOI.
- • Malott, last 10 games (Oct 24–Nov 14): 2 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 18 SOG.
- • Cates, last 10 games (Oct 24–Nov 14): 2 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 11 SOG.
Anaheim Ducks · Philadelphia Flyers · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Under Standard (6 categories), Jeff Malott has the edge (Malott wins 5, Cates wins 0 of 6 categories).
| Category | Malott | Cates |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.16 | 0.09 |
| Assists / game | 0.16 | 0.14 |
| Plus/minus / game | 0.05 | -0.05 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal / game | 1.37 | 0.95 |
| Hits / game | 2.32 | 0.95 |
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 scoring choice is shared with Who Should I Start: saved on this device, and on your account when you are signed in.
Head-to-head: Malott vs Cates
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2025-26 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Malott 0G 0A, 1 SOG · Cates 1G 2A, 3 SOG
On the ice against each other (Malott's side)
6:35 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27, from Malott's side
- Shot attempts
- 2–10
- 16.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.0–0.1
- 7.8%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Malott | Cates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-24 | ANA 5–4 PHI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2026-03-19 | LAK 3–4 PHI | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2026-01-31 | LAK 3–2 PHI | 0G 0A 0S | 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, Luck & trend, NHL EDGE tracking continue below
Every stat, side by side (continued)
Transition, turnovers & faceoffs
Usage
Special teams & discipline
This week's schedule
Nov 9 to Nov 15. 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 cover the games left: Edgehalla's rest-of-season rates per game, adjusted for each opponent's scoring allowed, in ESPN default points.
Scored in ESPN default points (G 2, A 1, PPP 0.5, SHP 0.5, SOG 0.1, HIT 0.1, BLK 0.5). Use your league's scoring
Jeff Malott
3games (1 left)
1.0proj. ESPN default pts
- Wed, Nov 11 vs NSH
- Sat, Nov 14 vs NYIOpp allows 11th-most FP to LWLikely vs Semyon Varlamov (.899)
- Opp allows 11th-fewest FP to LWvs Devin Cooley (.914)
Noah Cates
4games (1 left)
0.9proj. ESPN default pts
- Mon, Nov 9 @ VANB2B
- Wed, Nov 11 @ EDMOpp allows 9th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Tristan Jarry (.908)
- Sat, Nov 14 @ CBJOpp allows 13th-most FP to LWLikely vs Jet Greaves (.875)
- Opp allows 9th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Tristan Jarry (.908)
Player data stories
How the game changed, told through the numbers.
- In 2022-23, Four NHL Players Wore a Number in the 90s for Every One in No. 9 The count was 53 to 13, and the incomplete 2025-26 rosters show the same split, 51 to 12.
- The 1,000-Game Club Had Its Biggest Year. Getting In Is No Easier. Seventeen players reached 1,000 NHL games in 2025-26, more than in any season before, in the biggest league the NHL has had.
- Only 14 NHL Defencemen Still Score Like Ken Daneyko A stay-at-home defenceman stays back to defend and leaves the scoring to others.
- How Much Lighter Did the NHL Really Get? Teams write down NHL weights.
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Jeff Malott or Noah Cates in fantasy hockey?
- In 2026-27, Jeff Malott scored 1.13 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 0.87. Malott had 6 points in 19 games; Cates had 5 in 22 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, Jeff Malott or Noah Cates?
- On 2026-27 numbers, Jeff Malott leads in 2 of 2 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Malott and Cates done against each other?
- In 3 games against each other in our data, Malott's team went 2–1. Malott had 0 points (0 goals) and Cates had 3 (1 goals).
2026-27 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 →