Who to start · 2025-26
Leon Draisaitl vs Noah Cates
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Leon Draisaitl projects to 2.96 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33.
Draisaitl had 97 points in 65 games; Cates had 47 in 82 games.
This week Draisaitl has 1 game left; Cates has 1 left. We project Draisaitl for 2.4 ESPN points to Cates's 1.2.
Leon Draisaitl has the better number in 26 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Draisaitl's biggest edges: Ascension score 69, Faceoff win % 56.9%, Draw Equity /100 +0.077.
Cates's biggest edges: Blocked shots 51, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.031, Hits 102.
Head to head on the dot, Draisaitl leads Cates 8–2.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 2 G, 2 A, 2 PPP, 10 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Leon Draisaitl
2.96
fantasy points per game
Noah Cates
1.33
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Leon Draisaitl has the edge.
| Points per game from | Draisaitl | Cates |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.19 | 0.39 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.96 | 0.31 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.34 | 0.05 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.31 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.11 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.10 | 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: Draisaitl vs Cates
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2022-23 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Draisaitl 2G 3A, 6 SOG · Cates 1G 0A, 7 SOG
Draisaitl's offensive zone 3–1 · neutral 4–1 · Draisaitl's defensive zone 1–0 (2022-23 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Draisaitl's side)
7:12 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Draisaitl's side
- Shot attempts
- 2–8
- 20.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.3
- 33.8%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Draisaitl | Cates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-03 | EDM 2–5 PHI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-11-12 | EDM 2–1 PHI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-02-22 | EDM 3–6 PHI | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-10-19 | EDM 1–4 PHI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-02-21 | EDM 4–2 PHI | 1G 2A 1S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2023-02-09 | EDM 1–2 PHI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
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.
Leon Draisaitl
3games (1 left)
2.4proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VAN
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VAN
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA2.4 pts
Noah Cates
3games (1 left)
1.2proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs PIT
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NJDB2BSchedule edge −9.3 win%
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CAR1.2 ptsSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Leon Draisaitl or Noah Cates in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Leon Draisaitl projects to 2.96 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33. Draisaitl had 97 points in 65 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, Leon Draisaitl or Noah Cates?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Leon Draisaitl leads in 26 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Draisaitl and Cates done against each other?
- In 6 games against each other in our data, Draisaitl's team went 2–4. Draisaitl had 5 points (2 goals) and Cates had 1 (1 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Draisaitl or Cates?
- Against each other, Draisaitl has won 8 and Cates 2 of their 10 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 →