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Who to start · 2025-26

Nikita Kucherov vs Noah Cates

Nikita KucherovNikita KucherovLightning · Right wingvsNoah CatesNoah CatesFlyers · Left wing

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 3.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33.

Kucherov had 130 points in 77 games; Cates had 47 in 82 games.

This week Kucherov has 1 game left; Cates has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Kucherov for 2.8 ESPN points to Cates's 1.5.

Nikita Kucherov has the better number in 29 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

Kucherov's biggest edges: Hardest shot 92.1, Corsi 56.2%, 20+ mph bursts 138.

Cates's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 467, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.031, Hits 102.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 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

Nikita Kucherov

3.01

fantasy points per game

Noah Cates

1.33

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Nikita Kucherov has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromKucherovCates
Goals (+2)1.200.39
Assists (+1)1.050.31
Power-play points (+0.5)0.230.05
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.010.01
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.290.16
Hits (+0.1)0.040.11
Blocks (+0.5)0.210.30

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: Kucherov 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.

KucherovCates
8Team record in 11 meetings3
23Points in those games3

Kucherov 10G 13A, 31 SOG · Cates 2G 1A, 12 SOG

0Shots blocked by the other2

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

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

7:46 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Kucherov's side

Shot attempts
5–7
41.7%
Expected goals
0.2–0.3
43.3%
Goals
1–0

Games against each other

Games between Nikita Kucherov and Noah Cates
DateScoreKucherovCates
2026-01-12TBL 5–1 PHI1G 1A 6S0G 0A 1S
2026-01-10TBL 7–2 PHI2G 2A 2S0G 0A 1S
2025-11-24TBL 3–0 PHI0G 3A 0S0G 0A 0S
2025-03-17TBL 2–0 PHI1G 1A 3S0G 0A 0S
2024-11-07TBL 1–2 PHI1G 0A 4S0G 0A 1S
2024-03-09TBL 7–0 PHI0G 1A 1S0G 0A 2S
2024-02-27TBL 2–6 PHI0G 1A 5S1G 1A 2S
2024-01-23TBL 6–3 PHI3G 1A 5S0G 0A 0S
2023-03-07TBL 5–2 PHI2G 1A 4S0G 0A 2S
2022-12-01TBL 4–1 PHI0G 0A 1S0G 0A 2S
2022-10-18TBL 2–3 PHI0G 2A 0S1G 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.

KucherovCates

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.

Nikita Kucherov

2games (1 left)

2.8proj. ESPN pts

  • Thu, Oct 1 @ NYR
    Opp allows 12th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH2.8 pts
    Opp allows 13th-most FP to RWSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)

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 Nikita Kucherov or Noah Cates in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Nikita Kucherov projects to 3.01 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33. Kucherov had 130 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, Nikita Kucherov or Noah Cates?
On 2025-26 numbers, Nikita Kucherov leads in 29 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
How have Kucherov and Cates done against each other?
In 11 games against each other in our data, Kucherov's team went 8–3. Kucherov had 23 points (10 goals) and Cates had 3 (2 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 →