Edgehalla

Who to start · 2025-26

Miro Heiskanen vs Noah Cates

Miro HeiskanenMiro HeiskanenStars · DefencevsNoah CatesNoah CatesFlyers · Left wing

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Miro Heiskanen projects to 2.19 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33.

Heiskanen had 63 points in 77 games; Cates had 47 in 82 games.

This week Heiskanen has 1 game left; Cates has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Heiskanen for 2.2 ESPN points to Cates's 1.5.

Miro Heiskanen has the better number in 23 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

Heiskanen's biggest edges: 20+ mph bursts 71, Ascension score 50, Net penalties drawn /60 −0.06.

Cates's biggest edges: Hits 102, Penalty minutes 44, Plus/minus +26.

  • • 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

Miro Heiskanen

2.19

fantasy points per game

Noah Cates

1.33

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Miro Heiskanen has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromHeiskanenCates
Goals (+2)0.220.39
Assists (+1)0.660.31
Power-play points (+0.5)0.170.05
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.010.01
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.190.16
Hits (+0.1)0.030.11
Blocks (+0.5)0.930.30

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: Heiskanen 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.

HeiskanenCates
5Team record in 6 meetings1
4Points in those games2

Heiskanen 1G 3A, 8 SOG · Cates 0G 2A, 11 SOG

0Hits on each other2
0Penalties drawn off the other1

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

5:57 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Heiskanen's side

Shot attempts
5–3
62.5%
Expected goals
0.2–0.0
93.6%
Goals
0–0

Games against each other

Games between Miro Heiskanen and Noah Cates
DateScoreHeiskanenCates
2026-03-29DAL 1–2 PHI0G 0A 0S0G 0A 1S
2025-11-15DAL 5–1 PHI0G 0A 2S0G 0A 0S
2025-01-09DAL 4–1 PHI1G 0A 2S0G 0A 3S
2023-10-21DAL 5–4 PHI0G 1A 0S0G 2A 2S
2023-04-06DAL 4–1 PHI0G 1A 2S0G 0A 2S
2022-11-13DAL 5–1 PHI0G 1A 2S0G 0A 3S

Every stat, side by side

Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.

HeiskanenCates

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.

Miro Heiskanen

2games (1 left)

2.2proj. ESPN pts

  • Fri, Oct 2 vs STL
    Opp allows 4th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Joel Hofer (.910)
  • Sat, Oct 3 @ NSHB2B2.2 pts
    Opp allows 14th-most FP to DSchedule edge −12.9 win%Likely vs Juuse Saros (.893)

Noah Cates

3games (1 left)

1.5proj. ESPN pts

  • Wed, Sep 30 vs PIT
    Opp allows the fewest FP to LWLikely vs Arturs Silovs (.888)
  • Thu, Oct 1 @ NJDB2B
    Opp allows 9th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Jake Allen (.904)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs CAR1.5 pts
    Opp allows 9th-most FP to LWSchedule edge +9.0 win%Likely vs Pyotr Kochetkov (.899)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Miro Heiskanen or Noah Cates in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Miro Heiskanen projects to 2.19 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33. Heiskanen had 63 points in 77 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, Miro Heiskanen or Noah Cates?
On 2025-26 numbers, Miro Heiskanen leads in 23 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
How have Heiskanen and Cates done against each other?
In 6 games against each other in our data, Heiskanen's team went 5–1. Heiskanen had 4 points (1 goals) and Cates had 2 (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 →