Who to start · 2025-26
Noah Cates vs Ryan Leonard
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Ryan Leonard 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; Leonard had 45 in 75 games.
This week Cates has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Leonard has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Leonard for 1.8 ESPN points to Cates's 1.5.
Noah Cates has the better number in 18 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Cates's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.031, Faceoffs won 467, High-danger chances 52.6%.
Leonard's biggest edges: Hardest shot 93.9, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.50, 20+ mph bursts 123.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Noah Cates
1.33
fantasy points per game
Ryan Leonard
1.59
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Ryan Leonard has the edge.
| Points per game from | Cates | Leonard |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.39 | 0.63 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.31 | 0.31 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.05 | 0.09 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.16 | 0.21 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.11 | 0.17 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.30 | 0.19 |
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 Leonard
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2025-26 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Cates 1G 3A, 5 SOG · Leonard 2G 1A, 9 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
- 13–8
- 61.9%
- Expected goals
- 1.0–0.2
- 83.6%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cates | Leonard |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-31 | PHI 4–6 WSH | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2026-03-11 | PHI 4–1 WSH | 0G 2A 0S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2026-02-25 | PHI 1–3 WSH | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2026-02-03 | PHI 4–2 WSH | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 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 LW
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NJDB2BOpp allows 9th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge −9.3 win%
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CAR1.5 ptsOpp allows 9th-most FP to LWSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Ryan Leonard
2games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 @ CAROpp allows 11th-most FP to RW
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TBLB2B1.8 ptsOpp allows the most FP to RWSchedule edge −9.3 win%
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Noah Cates or Ryan Leonard in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Ryan Leonard 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; Leonard had 45 in 75 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 Ryan Leonard?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Noah Cates leads in 18 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 Leonard done against each other?
- In 4 games against each other in our data, Cates's team went 2–2. Cates had 4 points (1 goals) and Leonard had 3 (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 →