Who to start · 2025-26
Noah Cates vs Quinton Byfield
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Quinton Byfield projects to 1.57 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33.
Cates had 47 points in 82 games; Byfield had 49 in 79 games.
This week Cates has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Byfield has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Cates for 1.5 ESPN points to Byfield's 1.4.
Quinton Byfield has the better number in 21 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Cates's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 58.9%, Plus/minus +26, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.031.
Byfield's biggest edges: Ascension score 56, 20+ mph bursts 297, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.42.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Noah Cates
1.33
fantasy points per game
Quinton Byfield
1.57
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Quinton Byfield has the edge.
| Points per game from | Cates | Byfield |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.39 | 0.57 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.31 | 0.30 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.05 | 0.07 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.16 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.11 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.30 | 0.32 |
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 Byfield
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.
Cates 3G 2A, 11 SOG · Byfield 3G 6A, 15 SOG
Cates's offensive zone 1–2 · neutral 1–0 · Cates's defensive zone 2–2 (2022-23 to 2025-26)
Cates blocked 1 of Byfield's shots; Byfield blocked 1 of Cates's.
On the ice against each other (Cates's side)
7:17 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Cates's side
- Shot attempts
- 9–13
- 40.9%
- Expected goals
- 0.4–0.3
- 59.7%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cates | Byfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-19 | PHI 4–3 LAK | 1G 1A 2S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2026-01-31 | PHI 2–3 LAK | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2024-12-29 | PHI 4–5 LAK | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-12-19 | PHI 3–7 LAK | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2023-11-11 | PHI 4–2 LAK | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2023-11-04 | PHI 0–5 LAK | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 3A 1S |
| 2023-01-24 | PHI 3–4 LAK | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2022-12-31 | PHI 4–2 LAK | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 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.
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)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs PITOpp allows the fewest FP to LWLikely vs Arturs Silovs (.888)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NJDB2BOpp allows 9th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Jake Allen (.904)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CAR1.5 ptsOpp allows 9th-most FP to LWSchedule edge +9.0 win%Likely vs Pyotr Kochetkov (.899)
Quinton Byfield
2games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ COLOpp allows 10th-most FP to RWLikely vs Mackenzie Blackwood (.903)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ SJS1.4 ptsOpp allows 7th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge −3.2 win%Likely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Noah Cates or Quinton Byfield in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Quinton Byfield projects to 1.57 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33. Cates had 47 points in 82 games; Byfield had 49 in 79 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 Quinton Byfield?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Quinton Byfield leads in 21 of 36 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Cates and Byfield done against each other?
- In 8 games against each other in our data, Cates's team went 3–5. Cates had 5 points (3 goals) and Byfield had 9 (3 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Cates or Byfield?
- Against each other, Cates has won 4 and Byfield 4 of their 8 head-to-head draws.
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 →