Who to start · 2025-26
Martin Necas vs Noah Cates
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Martin Necas projects to 2.40 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33.
Necas had 100 points in 78 games; Cates had 47 in 82 games.
This week Necas has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Cates has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Necas for 1.7 ESPN points to Cates's 1.5.
Martin Necas has the better number in 27 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Necas's biggest edges: 20+ mph bursts 348, Hardest shot 93.4, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.57.
Cates's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.031, Faceoffs won 467, Blocked shots 51.
Head to head on the dot, Necas leads Cates 7–4.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 4 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Martin Necas
2.40
fantasy points per game
Noah Cates
1.33
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Martin Necas has the edge.
| Points per game from | Necas | Cates |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.91 | 0.39 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.81 | 0.31 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.14 | 0.05 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.27 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.11 | 0.11 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.16 | 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: Necas 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.
Necas 3G 10A, 45 SOG · Cates 1G 4A, 11 SOG
Necas's offensive zone 2–0 · neutral 4–3 · Necas's defensive zone 1–1 (2022-23 to 2023-24)
Necas blocked 1 of Cates's shots; Cates blocked 0 of Necas's.
On the ice against each other (Necas's side)
8:35 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Necas's side
- Shot attempts
- 13–2
- 86.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.2
- 65.4%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Necas | Cates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-23 | COL 3–7 PHI | 0G 2A 9S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-12-07 | COL 3–2 PHI | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-02-02 | COL 2–0 PHI | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-11-20 | CAR 4–1 PHI | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2024-11-05 | CAR 6–4 PHI | 1G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-03-21 | CAR 3–2 PHI | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-11-15 | CAR 1–3 PHI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-10-30 | CAR 3–2 PHI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-03-18 | CAR 5–4 PHI | 1G 1A 5S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2023-03-09 | CAR 1–0 PHI | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-12-23 | CAR 6–5 PHI | 0G 2A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-10-29 | CAR 4–3 PHI | 1G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 0S |
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.
Martin Necas
2games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows the most FP to CLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL1.7 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
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 Martin Necas or Noah Cates in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Martin Necas projects to 2.40 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33. Necas had 100 points in 78 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, Martin Necas or Noah Cates?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Martin Necas leads in 27 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Necas and Cates done against each other?
- In 12 games against each other in our data, Necas's team went 10–2. Necas had 13 points (3 goals) and Cates had 5 (1 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Necas or Cates?
- Against each other, Necas has won 7 and Cates 4 of their 11 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 →