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Who to start · 2025-26

Mattias Ekholm vs Noah Cates

Mattias EkholmMattias EkholmOilers · DefencevsNoah CatesNoah CatesFlyers · Left wing

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mattias Ekholm projects to 1.43 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33.

Ekholm had 41 points in 82 games; Cates had 47 in 82 games.

This week Ekholm has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Cates has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Cates for 1.5 ESPN points to Ekholm's 1.1.

They split the 34 stats both are ranked on 17–17.

Ekholm's biggest edges: Hardest shot 98.4, Corsi 56.0%, Transition attempts /60 0.80.

Cates's biggest edges: On-ice PDO 1026, Goals above expected −0.6, Penalty minutes 44.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Mattias Ekholm

1.43

fantasy points per game

Noah Cates

1.33

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Mattias Ekholm has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromEkholmCates
Goals (+2)0.130.39
Assists (+1)0.380.31
Power-play points (+0.5)0.020.05
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.000.01
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.150.16
Hits (+0.1)0.080.11
Blocks (+0.5)0.670.30

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: Ekholm 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.

EkholmCates
2Team record in 6 meetings4
2Points in those games0

Ekholm 1G 1A, 14 SOG · Cates 0G 0A, 5 SOG

1Hits on each other0
0Shots blocked by the other2

Ekholm blocked 0 of Cates's shots; Cates blocked 2 of Ekholm's.

On the ice against each other (Ekholm's side)

8:37 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Ekholm's side

Shot attempts
14–5
73.7%
Expected goals
0.6–0.2
75.7%
Goals
1–0

Games against each other

Games between Mattias Ekholm and Noah Cates
DateScoreEkholmCates
2026-01-03EDM 2–5 PHI0G 1A 3S0G 0A 0S
2025-11-12EDM 2–1 PHI0G 0A 3S0G 0A 3S
2025-02-22EDM 3–6 PHI1G 0A 1S0G 0A 1S
2023-10-19EDM 1–4 PHI0G 0A 2S0G 0A 0S
2023-02-11NSH 2–1 PHI0G 0A 3S0G 0A 0S
2022-10-22NSH 1–3 PHI0G 0A 2S0G 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.

EkholmCates

Fantasy box score

Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

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.

Mattias Ekholm

3games (1 left)

1.1proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 vs VAN
    Opp allows 5th-most FP to D
  • Thu, Oct 1 @ VAN
    Opp allows 5th-most FP to D
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.1 pts
    Opp allows 3rd-fewest FP to D

Noah Cates

3games (1 left)

1.5proj. ESPN pts

  • Wed, Sep 30 vs PIT
    Opp allows the fewest FP to LW
  • Thu, Oct 1 @ NJDB2B
    Opp allows 9th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge −9.3 win%
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs CAR1.5 pts
    Opp allows 9th-most FP to LWSchedule edge +9.3 win%

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Mattias Ekholm or Noah Cates in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mattias Ekholm projects to 1.43 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33. Ekholm had 41 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, Mattias Ekholm or Noah Cates?
On 2025-26 numbers they split 17–17 across 34 stats where both qualify.
How have Ekholm and Cates done against each other?
In 6 games against each other in our data, Ekholm's team went 2–4. Ekholm had 2 points (1 goals) and Cates had 0 (0 goals).

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 →