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Who to start · 2025-26

Joel Eriksson Ek vs Noah Cates

Joel Eriksson EkJoel Eriksson EkWild · CentrevsNoah CatesNoah CatesFlyers · Left wing

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Joel Eriksson Ek projects to 1.70 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33.

Eriksson Ek had 51 points in 70 games; Cates had 47 in 82 games.

This week Eriksson Ek has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Cates has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Cates for 1.5 ESPN points to Eriksson Ek's 1.3.

Joel Eriksson Ek has the better number in 23 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.

Eriksson Ek's biggest edges: Ascension score 53, Hardest shot 91.4, 20+ mph bursts 95.

Cates's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 58.9%, Forecheck xG /60 0.28, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.031.

Head to head on the dot, Eriksson Ek leads Cates 23–11.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Joel Eriksson Ek

1.70

fantasy points per game

Noah Cates

1.33

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Joel Eriksson Ek has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromEriksson EkCates
Goals (+2)0.510.39
Assists (+1)0.430.31
Power-play points (+0.5)0.110.05
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.000.01
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.280.16
Hits (+0.1)0.150.11
Blocks (+0.5)0.230.30

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: Eriksson Ek 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.

Eriksson EkCates
2Team record in 7 meetings5
6Points in those games4

Eriksson Ek 1G 5A, 15 SOG · Cates 2G 2A, 11 SOG

23Faceoffs against each other11

Eriksson Ek's offensive zone 11–2 · neutral 7–3 · Eriksson Ek's defensive zone 5–6 (2022-23 to 2025-26)

2Hits on each other0

On the ice against each other (Eriksson Ek's side)

7:02 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Eriksson Ek's side

Shot attempts
4–3
57.1%
Expected goals
0.0–0.1
9.9%
Goals
0–0

Games against each other

Games between Joel Eriksson Ek and Noah Cates
DateScoreEriksson EkCates
2026-03-12MIN 2–3 PHI0G 0A 5S0G 0A 1S
2025-10-18MIN 1–2 PHI0G 0A 1S1G 0A 3S
2024-10-26MIN 5–7 PHI1G 1A 3S0G 1A 0S
2023-10-26MIN 2–6 PHI0G 0A 1S0G 0A 1S
2023-03-23MIN 4–5 PHI0G 2A 2S0G 1A 0S
2023-01-26MIN 3–2 PHI0G 0A 2S1G 0A 3S
2022-03-29MIN 4–1 PHI0G 2A 1S0G 0A 3S

Every stat, side by side

Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.

Eriksson EkCates

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.

Joel Eriksson Ek

2games (1 left)

1.3proj. ESPN pts

  • Thu, Oct 1 @ NSH
    Opp allows 10th-most FP to CLikely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs BOS1.3 pts
    Opp allows 5th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +12.8 win%Likely vs Michael DiPietro (1.000)

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 Joel Eriksson Ek or Noah Cates in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Joel Eriksson Ek projects to 1.70 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33. Eriksson Ek had 51 points in 70 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, Joel Eriksson Ek or Noah Cates?
On 2025-26 numbers, Joel Eriksson Ek leads in 23 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
How have Eriksson Ek and Cates done against each other?
In 7 games against each other in our data, Eriksson Ek's team went 2–5. Eriksson Ek had 6 points (1 goals) and Cates had 4 (2 goals).
Who wins more faceoffs, Eriksson Ek or Cates?
Against each other, Eriksson Ek has won 23 and Cates 11 of their 34 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 →