Who to start · 2025-26
John Tavares vs Noah Cates
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, John Tavares projects to 1.80 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33.
Tavares had 71 points in 82 games; Cates had 47 in 82 games.
This week Tavares has 1 game left; Cates has 1 left. We project Tavares for 1.8 ESPN points to Cates's 1.5.
John Tavares has the better number in 20 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Tavares's biggest edges: Faceoff win % 57.5%, Draw Equity /100 +0.071, Hardest shot 88.5.
Cates's biggest edges: Plus/minus +26, Blocked shots 51, On-ice PDO 1026.
Head to head on the dot, Tavares leads Cates 21–15.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
John Tavares
1.80
fantasy points per game
Noah Cates
1.33
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, John Tavares has the edge.
| Points per game from | Tavares | Cates |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.67 | 0.39 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.49 | 0.31 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.11 | 0.05 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.24 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.09 | 0.11 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 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: Tavares 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.
Tavares 9G 15A, 46 SOG · Cates 1G 4A, 19 SOG
Tavares's offensive zone 10–6 · neutral 8–5 · Tavares's defensive zone 3–4 (2021-22 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Tavares's side)
9:40 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Tavares's side
- Shot attempts
- 14–6
- 70.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.1
- 73.4%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Tavares | Cates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-02 | TOR 2–3 PHI | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2026-01-08 | TOR 2–1 PHI | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-11-01 | TOR 5–2 PHI | 0G 2A 4S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2025-03-25 | TOR 7–2 PHI | 2G 2A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-01-07 | TOR 3–2 PHI | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-01-05 | TOR 3–2 PHI | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2024-03-19 | TOR 3–4 PHI | 1G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-03-14 | TOR 6–2 PHI | 0G 0A 8S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-02-15 | TOR 4–3 PHI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2023-01-08 | TOR 6–2 PHI | 1G 2A 5S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-12-22 | TOR 4–3 PHI | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-11-02 | TOR 5–2 PHI | 3G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 0S |
Latest 12 of 14 meetings.
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.
John Tavares
3games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Tue, Sep 29 vs MTL
- Wed, Sep 30 vs NYIB2B
- Sat, Oct 3 vs OTT1.8 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 John Tavares or Noah Cates in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, John Tavares projects to 1.80 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33. Tavares had 71 points in 82 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, John Tavares or Noah Cates?
- On 2025-26 numbers, John Tavares leads in 20 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Tavares and Cates done against each other?
- In 14 games against each other in our data, Tavares's team went 12–2. Tavares had 24 points (9 goals) and Cates had 5 (1 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Tavares or Cates?
- Against each other, Tavares has won 21 and Cates 15 of their 36 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 →