Who to start · 2025-26
Noah Cates vs Owen Tippett
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Owen Tippett projects to 1.73 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33.
Cates had 47 points in 82 games; Tippett had 51 in 81 games.
This week Cates has 1 game left; Tippett has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Tippett for 1.4 ESPN points to Cates's 1.0.
Owen Tippett has the better number in 23 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Cates's biggest edges: Plus/minus +26, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.031, Faceoffs won 467.
Tippett's biggest edges: 20+ mph bursts 388, Hardest shot 93.2, Transition attempts /60 2.54.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Noah Cates
1.33
fantasy points per game
Owen Tippett
1.73
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Owen Tippett has the edge.
| Points per game from | Cates | Tippett |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.39 | 0.61 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.31 | 0.25 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.05 | 0.04 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.02 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.16 | 0.27 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.11 | 0.24 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.30 | 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: Cates vs Tippett
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2022-23 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Cates blocked 1 of Tippett's shots; Tippett blocked 0 of Cates's.
Goals each scored with the other picking up an assist (as teammates).
On the ice together
82:10 at 5-on-5 over 25 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27
- Shot attempts
- 68–77
- 46.9%
- Expected goals
- 2.4–2.5
- 48.8%
- Goals
- 2–3
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.
Noah Cates
3games (1 left)
1.0proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs PITOpp allows the fewest FP to LWLikely vs Arturs Silovs (.888)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NJDB2BOpp allows 8th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Jake Allen (.904)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CAR1.0 ptsOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge +12.2 win%Likely vs Pyotr Kochetkov (.899)
Owen Tippett
3games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs PITOpp allows the fewest FP to RWLikely vs Arturs Silovs (.888)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NJDB2BOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Jake Allen (.904)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CAR1.4 ptsOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge +12.2 win%Likely vs Pyotr Kochetkov (.899)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Noah Cates or Owen Tippett in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Owen Tippett projects to 1.73 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33. Cates had 47 points in 82 games; Tippett had 51 in 81 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, Noah Cates or Owen Tippett?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Owen Tippett leads in 23 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
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 →