Who to start · 2025-26
Noah Cates vs Rasmus Sandin
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Rasmus Sandin projects to 1.59 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33.
Cates had 47 points in 82 games; Sandin had 29 in 73 games.
This week Cates has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Sandin has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Sandin for 1.7 ESPN points to Cates's 1.5.
Noah Cates has the better number in 24 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Cates's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.031, Penalty minutes 44, Forecheck xG /60 0.28.
Sandin's biggest edges: 20+ mph bursts 61, Net penalties drawn /60 −0.09, Hardest shot 90.7.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Noah Cates
1.45
fantasy points per game
Rasmus Sandin
1.59
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Rasmus Sandin has the edge.
| Points per game from | Cates | Sandin |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.44 | 0.14 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.35 | 0.33 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.05 | 0.01 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.16 | 0.12 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.12 | 0.12 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.31 | 0.87 |
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 Sandin
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, 7 SOG · Sandin 1G 4A, 8 SOG
On the ice against each other (Cates's side)
11:56 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Cates's side
- Shot attempts
- 8–8
- 50.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.3–0.3
- 52.3%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cates | Sandin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-31 | PHI 4–6 WSH | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2026-03-11 | PHI 4–1 WSH | 0G 2A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2026-02-25 | PHI 1–3 WSH | 1G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2026-02-03 | PHI 4–2 WSH | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-03-20 | PHI 2–3 WSH | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-02-06 | PHI 3–4 WSH | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-10-23 | PHI 3–6 WSH | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2024-10-22 | PHI 1–4 WSH | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-03-01 | PHI 2–5 WSH | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-01-08 | PHI 2–6 TOR | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-11-02 | PHI 2–5 TOR | 0G 0A 0S | 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)
Rasmus Sandin
2games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ CAROpp allows 10th-most FP to DLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TBLB2B1.7 ptsOpp allows 7th-most FP to DSchedule edge −13.3 win%vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Noah Cates or Rasmus Sandin in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Rasmus Sandin projects to 1.59 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33. Cates had 47 points in 82 games; Sandin had 29 in 73 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 Sandin?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Noah Cates leads in 24 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Cates and Sandin done against each other?
- In 11 games against each other in our data, Cates's team went 2–9. Cates had 4 points (1 goals) and Sandin had 5 (1 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 →