Who to start · 2025-26
Mark Scheifele vs Noah Cates
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mark Scheifele projects to 2.23 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33.
Scheifele had 103 points in 82 games; Cates had 47 in 82 games.
This week Scheifele has 1 game left; Cates has 1 left. We project Scheifele for 2.0 ESPN points to Cates's 1.0.
Mark Scheifele has the better number in 24 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Scheifele's biggest edges: Ascension score 50, 20+ mph bursts 121, Goals above expected +3.3.
Cates's biggest edges: Hits 102, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.031, Plus/minus +26.
Head to head on the dot, Scheifele leads Cates 19–15.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 0 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mark Scheifele
2.23
fantasy points per game
Noah Cates
1.33
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mark Scheifele has the edge.
| Points per game from | Scheifele | Cates |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.82 | 0.39 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.77 | 0.31 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.13 | 0.05 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.20 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.11 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.27 | 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: Scheifele 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.
Scheifele 5G 3A, 22 SOG · Cates 2G 6A, 11 SOG
Scheifele's offensive zone 7–5 · neutral 10–5 · Scheifele's defensive zone 2–5 (2022-23 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Scheifele's side)
13:59 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Scheifele's side
- Shot attempts
- 4–13
- 23.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.7
- 7.4%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Scheifele | Cates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-11 | WPG 1–7 PHI | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 2A 2S |
| 2025-10-16 | WPG 5–2 PHI | 2G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-03-06 | WPG 4–1 PHI | 1G 2A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-03-01 | WPG 1–2 PHI | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2024-02-08 | WPG 1–4 PHI | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-01-28 | WPG 0–4 PHI | 0G 0A 5S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2023-01-22 | WPG 5–3 PHI | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 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.
Mark Scheifele
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs BOSOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ DET2.0 ptsLikely vs John Gibson (.901)
Noah Cates
3games (1 left)
1.0proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs PITOpp allows the fewest FP to LWLikely vs Arturs Silovs (.888)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NJDB2BOpp allows 8th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Jake Allen (.904)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CAR1.0 ptsOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge +12.9 win%Likely vs Pyotr Kochetkov (.899)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Mark Scheifele or Noah Cates in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mark Scheifele projects to 2.23 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33. Scheifele had 103 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, Mark Scheifele or Noah Cates?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mark Scheifele leads in 24 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Scheifele and Cates done against each other?
- In 7 games against each other in our data, Scheifele's team went 3–4. Scheifele had 8 points (5 goals) and Cates had 8 (2 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Scheifele or Cates?
- Against each other, Scheifele has won 19 and Cates 15 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 →