Who to start · 2025-26
Noah Cates vs Rasmus Andersson
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Rasmus Andersson projects to 1.88 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33.
Cates had 47 points in 82 games; Andersson had 47 in 81 games.
This week Cates has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Andersson has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Andersson for 2.0 ESPN points to Cates's 1.5.
They split the 34 stats both are ranked on 16–16.
Cates's biggest edges: On-ice PDO 1026, Plus/minus +26, Hits 102.
Andersson's biggest edges: Hardest shot 100.3, 20+ mph bursts 61, Goals above expected +3.4.
- • 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, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Noah Cates
1.33
fantasy points per game
Rasmus Andersson
1.88
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Rasmus Andersson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Cates | Andersson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.39 | 0.37 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.31 | 0.33 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.05 | 0.07 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.16 | 0.22 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.11 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.30 | 0.85 |
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 Andersson
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 1G 3A, 11 SOG · Andersson 2G 0A, 12 SOG
Cates blocked 0 of Andersson's shots; Andersson blocked 1 of Cates's.
On the ice against each other (Cates's side)
9:43 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Cates's side
- Shot attempts
- 7–4
- 63.6%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.2
- 62.4%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cates | Andersson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-31 | PHI 1–5 CGY | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-11-02 | PHI 1–2 CGY | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-03-04 | PHI 3–6 CGY | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-10-12 | PHI 3–6 CGY | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-02-20 | PHI 4–3 CGY | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2022-11-21 | PHI 2–5 CGY | 0G 1A 2S | 1G 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.
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 +12.9 win%Likely vs Pyotr Kochetkov (.899)
Rasmus Andersson
3games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs CHIOpp allows 4th-most FP to DLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs ANAOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to DLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ VAN2.0 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 Rasmus Andersson in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Rasmus Andersson projects to 1.88 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33. Cates had 47 points in 82 games; Andersson had 47 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 Rasmus Andersson?
- On 2025-26 numbers they split 16–16 across 34 stats where both qualify.
- How have Cates and Andersson done against each other?
- In 6 games against each other in our data, Cates's team went 1–5. Cates had 4 points (1 goals) and Andersson had 2 (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 →