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Who to start · 2025-26

Noah Cates vs Quinn Hughes

Noah CatesNoah CatesFlyers · Left wingvsQuinn HughesQuinn HughesWild · Defence

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Quinn Hughes projects to 2.16 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33.

Cates had 47 points in 82 games; Hughes had 76 in 74 games.

This week Cates has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Hughes has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Hughes for 1.7 ESPN points to Cates's 1.5.

Quinn Hughes has the better number in 20 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

Cates's biggest edges: Hits 102, Plus/minus +26, Luck Meter +14.

Hughes's biggest edges: Ascension score 57, 20+ mph bursts 174, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.47.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Noah Cates

1.33

fantasy points per game

Quinn Hughes

2.16

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Quinn Hughes has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromCatesHughes
Goals (+2)0.390.18
Assists (+1)0.310.94
Power-play points (+0.5)0.050.22
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.010.00
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.160.27
Hits (+0.1)0.110.01
Blocks (+0.5)0.300.55

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 Hughes

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.

CatesHughes
3Team record in 4 meetings1
0Points in those games3

Cates 0G 0A, 5 SOG · Hughes 0G 3A, 10 SOG

1Hits on each other0
1Shots blocked by the other0

Cates blocked 1 of Hughes's shots; Hughes blocked 0 of Cates's.

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

2:33 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Cates's side

Shot attempts
2–2
50.0%
Expected goals
0.0–0.1
17.7%
Goals
0–1

Games against each other

Games between Noah Cates and Quinn Hughes
DateScoreCatesHughes
2026-03-12PHI 3–2 MIN0G 0A 1S0G 2A 3S
2023-10-17PHI 2–0 VAN0G 0A 1S0G 0A 4S
2023-02-18PHI 2–6 VAN0G 0A 2S0G 1A 1S
2022-10-15PHI 3–2 VAN0G 0A 1S0G 0A 2S

Every stat, side by side

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

CatesHughes

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.

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)

Quinn Hughes

2games (1 left)

1.7proj. ESPN pts

  • Thu, Oct 1 @ NSH
    Opp allows 14th-most FP to DLikely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs BOS1.7 pts
    Opp allows 8th-fewest FP to DSchedule edge +12.8 win%Likely vs Michael DiPietro (1.000)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Noah Cates or Quinn Hughes in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Quinn Hughes projects to 2.16 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33. Cates had 47 points in 82 games; Hughes had 76 in 74 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 Quinn Hughes?
On 2025-26 numbers, Quinn Hughes 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 Hughes done against each other?
In 4 games against each other in our data, Cates's team went 3–1. Cates had 0 points (0 goals) and Hughes 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 →