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Who to start · 2025-26

Noah Cates vs Rickard Rakell

Noah CatesNoah CatesFlyers · Left wingvsRickard RakellRickard RakellPenguins · Right wing

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Rickard Rakell projects to 2.10 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33.

Cates had 47 points in 82 games; Rakell had 48 in 60 games.

This week Cates has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Rakell has 1 left. We project Rakell for 2.0 ESPN points to Cates's 1.5.

Rickard Rakell has the better number in 21 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.

Cates's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.031, Penalty minutes 44, Plus/minus +26.

Rakell's biggest edges: Ascension score 50, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.42, Hardest shot 88.0.

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

Fantasy value: your scoring

Noah Cates

1.33

fantasy points per game

Rickard Rakell

2.10

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Rickard Rakell has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromCatesRakell
Goals (+2)0.390.75
Assists (+1)0.310.44
Power-play points (+0.5)0.050.16
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.010.02
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.160.27
Hits (+0.1)0.110.13
Blocks (+0.5)0.300.34

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 Rakell

Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.

CatesRakell
8Team record in 18 meetings10
14Points in those games17

Cates 7G 7A, 30 SOG · Rakell 7G 10A, 49 SOG

4Faceoffs against each other5

Cates's offensive zone 0–2 · neutral 2–2 · Cates's defensive zone 2–1 (2024-25 to 2025-26)

0Hits on each other1

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

29:26 at 5-on-5 over 8 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27, from Cates's side

Shot attempts
24–37
39.3%
Expected goals
1.3–1.9
40.9%
Goals
1–2

Games against each other

Games between Noah Cates and Rickard Rakell
DateScoreCatesRakell
2026-09-30PHI 0–7 PIT0G 0A 1S0G 1A 2S
2026-04-29 · POPHI 1–0 PIT0G 1A 1S0G 0A 4S
2026-04-27 · POPHI 2–3 PIT0G 1A 0S0G 0A 5S
2026-04-25 · POPHI 2–4 PIT0G 0A 2S1G 1A 1S
2026-04-22 · POPHI 5–2 PIT1G 1A 3S0G 1A 3S
2026-04-20 · POPHI 3–0 PIT0G 0A 1S0G 0A 1S
2026-04-18 · POPHI 3–2 PIT0G 0A 2S0G 1A 2S
2026-03-07PHI 4–3 PIT0G 1A 0S1G 1A 4S
2026-01-15PHI 3–6 PIT0G 0A 3S0G 1A 4S
2025-02-27PHI 4–5 PIT1G 0A 3S0G 0A 1S
2025-02-25PHI 6–1 PIT2G 1A 3S0G 0A 2S
2025-02-08PHI 3–2 PIT0G 0A 1S0G 1A 2S

Latest 12 of 18 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.

CatesRakell

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)

Rickard Rakell

2games (1 left)

2.0proj. ESPN pts

  • Wed, Sep 30 @ PHI
    Opp allows 5th-most FP to RWLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL2.0 pts
    Opp allows 12th-most FP to RWvs Jakub Dobes (.901)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Noah Cates or Rickard Rakell in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Rickard Rakell projects to 2.10 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33. Cates had 47 points in 82 games; Rakell had 48 in 60 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 Rickard Rakell?
On 2025-26 numbers, Rickard Rakell 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 Rakell done against each other?
In 18 games against each other in our data, Cates's team went 8–10. Cates had 14 points (7 goals) and Rakell had 17 (7 goals).
Who wins more faceoffs, Cates or Rakell?
Against each other, Cates has won 4 and Rakell 5 of their 9 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 →