Who to start · 2025-26
Noah Cates vs Parker Wotherspoon
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Noah Cates projects to 1.33 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Parker Wotherspoon's 1.29.
Cates had 47 points in 82 games; Wotherspoon had 30 in 80 games.
This week Cates has 1 game left; Wotherspoon has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Wotherspoon for 1.4 ESPN points to Cates's 1.0.
Noah Cates has the better number in 20 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Cates's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.031, Power-play share 44.7%, Power-play time per game 2:02.
Wotherspoon's biggest edges: Corsi 52.2%, Ascension score 44, Fenwick 51.4%.
- • 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, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Noah Cates
1.33
fantasy points per game
Parker Wotherspoon
1.29
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Noah Cates has the edge.
| Points per game from | Cates | Wotherspoon |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.39 | 0.07 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.31 | 0.30 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.05 | 0.00 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.16 | 0.08 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.11 | 0.18 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.30 | 0.65 |
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 Wotherspoon
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2023-24 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Cates 1G 5A, 18 SOG · Wotherspoon 0G 3A, 8 SOG
Cates blocked 2 of Wotherspoon's shots; Wotherspoon blocked 2 of Cates's.
On the ice against each other (Cates's side)
34:09 at 5-on-5 over 9 games, 2025-26, from Cates's side
- Shot attempts
- 26–36
- 41.9%
- Expected goals
- 1.0–0.9
- 52.8%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cates | Wotherspoon |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-29 · PO | PHI 1–0 PIT | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-04-27 · PO | PHI 2–3 PIT | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2026-04-25 · PO | PHI 2–4 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-04-22 · PO | PHI 5–2 PIT | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-04-20 · PO | PHI 3–0 PIT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2026-04-18 · PO | PHI 3–2 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2026-03-07 | PHI 4–3 PIT | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2026-01-15 | PHI 3–6 PIT | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-12-01 | PHI 1–5 PIT | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-10-28 | PHI 3–2 PIT | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-11-02 | PHI 0–3 BOS | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-03-16 | PHI 5–6 BOS | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
Latest 12 of 13 meetings.
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 +12.9 win%Likely vs Pyotr Kochetkov (.899)
Parker Wotherspoon
3games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs CHIOpp allows 4th-most FP to DLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs ANALikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ VAN1.4 ptsOpp allows 5th-most FP to DSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Noah Cates or Parker Wotherspoon in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Noah Cates projects to 1.33 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Parker Wotherspoon's 1.29. Cates had 47 points in 82 games; Wotherspoon had 30 in 80 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 Parker Wotherspoon?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Noah Cates 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 Cates and Wotherspoon done against each other?
- In 13 games against each other in our data, Cates's team went 6–7. Cates had 6 points (1 goals) and Wotherspoon had 3 (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 →