Who to start · 2025-26
Mikko Rantanen vs Noah Cates
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mikko Rantanen projects to 2.21 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33.
Rantanen had 77 points in 64 games; Cates had 47 in 82 games.
This week Rantanen has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Cates has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Rantanen for 1.6 ESPN points to Cates's 1.5.
Mikko Rantanen has the better number in 20 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Rantanen's biggest edges: Ascension score 54, Hardest shot 87.1, Power-play share 82.8%.
Cates's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.031, Faceoffs won 467, Plus/minus +26.
Head to head on the dot, Rantanen leads Cates 8–5.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Mikko Rantanen
2.21
fantasy points per game
Noah Cates
1.33
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Mikko Rantanen has the edge.
| Points per game from | Rantanen | Cates |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.64 | 0.39 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.81 | 0.31 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.25 | 0.05 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.21 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.08 | 0.11 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 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: Rantanen 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.
Rantanen 3G 3A, 20 SOG · Cates 0G 1A, 6 SOG
Rantanen's offensive zone 2–2 · neutral 5–0 · Rantanen's defensive zone 1–3 (2022-23 to 2025-26)
On the ice against each other (Rantanen's side)
6:41 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Rantanen's side
- Shot attempts
- 3–9
- 25.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.1
- 80.9%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Rantanen | Cates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-29 | DAL 1–2 PHI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-11-15 | DAL 5–1 PHI | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-03-22 | DAL 3–2 PHI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-11-18 | COL 3–2 PHI | 0G 2A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-01-20 | COL 7–4 PHI | 2G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-12-13 | COL 3–2 PHI | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-12-05 | COL 3–5 PHI | 1G 0A 3S | 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.
Mikko Rantanen
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs STLOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Joel Hofer (.910)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NSHB2B1.6 ptsOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge −12.9 win%Likely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
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 Mikko Rantanen or Noah Cates in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mikko Rantanen projects to 2.21 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33. Rantanen had 77 points in 64 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, Mikko Rantanen or Noah Cates?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Mikko Rantanen leads in 20 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Rantanen and Cates done against each other?
- In 7 games against each other in our data, Rantanen's team went 5–2. Rantanen had 6 points (3 goals) and Cates had 1 (0 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Rantanen or Cates?
- Against each other, Rantanen has won 8 and Cates 5 of their 13 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 →