Who to start · 2025-26
Kyle Connor vs Noah Cates
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Kyle Connor projects to 2.43 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33.
Connor had 92 points in 82 games; Cates had 47 in 82 games.
This week Connor has 1 game left; Cates has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Connor for 2.4 ESPN points to Cates's 1.5.
Kyle Connor has the better number in 22 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Connor's biggest edges: Ascension score 58, 20+ mph bursts 162, Hardest shot 90.9.
Cates's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 467, Blocked shots 51, Penalty minutes 44.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 9 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Kyle Connor
2.43
fantasy points per game
Noah Cates
1.33
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Kyle Connor has the edge.
| Points per game from | Connor | Cates |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.02 | 0.39 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.67 | 0.31 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.14 | 0.05 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.37 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.11 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.17 | 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: Connor 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.
Connor 4G 6A, 16 SOG · Cates 2G 6A, 12 SOG
Connor's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 1–0 · Connor's defensive zone 0–0 (2022-23)
Connor blocked 0 of Cates's shots; Cates blocked 2 of Connor's.
On the ice against each other (Connor's side)
13:51 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Connor's side
- Shot attempts
- 6–13
- 31.6%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.7
- 20.5%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Connor | Cates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-11 | WPG 1–7 PHI | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 2A 2S |
| 2025-10-16 | WPG 5–2 PHI | 0G 2A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-03-06 | WPG 4–1 PHI | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-03-01 | WPG 1–2 PHI | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2024-02-08 | WPG 1–4 PHI | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-01-28 | WPG 0–4 PHI | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2023-01-22 | WPG 5–3 PHI | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-04-27 | WPG 4–0 PHI | 1G 2A 4S | 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.
Kyle Connor
2games (1 left)
2.4proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs BOSOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ DET2.4 ptsOpp allows 13th-most FP to LWLikely vs John Gibson (.901)
Noah Cates
3games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs PITOpp allows the fewest FP to LWLikely vs Arturs Silovs (.888)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NJDB2BOpp allows 9th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Jake Allen (.904)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CAR1.5 ptsOpp allows 9th-most FP to LWSchedule edge +12.9 win%Likely vs Pyotr Kochetkov (.899)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Kyle Connor or Noah Cates in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Kyle Connor projects to 2.43 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33. Connor had 92 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, Kyle Connor or Noah Cates?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Kyle Connor leads in 22 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Connor and Cates done against each other?
- In 8 games against each other in our data, Connor's team went 4–4. Connor had 10 points (4 goals) and Cates had 8 (2 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Connor or Cates?
- Against each other, Connor has won 1 and Cates 0 of their 1 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 →