Who to start · 2025-26
Noah Cates vs Tomas Hertl
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Tomas Hertl 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; Hertl had 58 in 82 games.
This week Cates has 1 game left; Hertl has 1 left. We project Hertl for 1.7 ESPN points to Cates's 1.2.
Tomas Hertl has the better number in 26 of the 36 stats both are ranked on.
Cates's biggest edges: Plus/minus +26, On-ice PDO 1026, Luck Meter +14.
Hertl's biggest edges: Ascension score 61, Draw Equity /100 +0.096, Faceoff win % 57.8%.
Head to head on the dot, Hertl leads Cates 10–9.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 1 PPP, 9 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Noah Cates
1.33
fantasy points per game
Tomas Hertl
1.88
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Tomas Hertl has the edge.
| Points per game from | Cates | Hertl |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.39 | 0.63 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.31 | 0.37 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.05 | 0.17 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.16 | 0.27 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.11 | 0.14 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.30 | 0.30 |
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 Hertl
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 0G 1A, 7 SOG · Hertl 3G 3A, 16 SOG
Cates's offensive zone 4–0 · neutral 1–5 · Cates's defensive zone 4–5 (2022-23 to 2025-26)
Cates blocked 1 of Hertl's shots; Hertl blocked 0 of Cates's.
On the ice against each other (Cates's side)
3:28 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Cates's side
- Shot attempts
- 4–4
- 50.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.0–0.2
- 15.5%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cates | Hertl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-19 | PHI 2–1 VGK | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-12-11 | PHI 2–3 VGK | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-01-02 | PHI 2–5 VGK | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-11-25 | PHI 4–5 VGK | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2023-11-07 | PHI 1–2 SJS | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2022-12-29 | PHI 4–3 SJS | 0G 0A 1S | 2G 1A 2S |
| 2022-10-23 | PHI 0–3 SJS | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 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)
1.2proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs PIT
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NJDB2BSchedule edge −9.3 win%
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CAR1.2 ptsSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Tomas Hertl
3games (1 left)
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs CHI
- Fri, Oct 2 vs ANA
- Sun, Oct 4 @ VAN1.7 ptsSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Noah Cates or Tomas Hertl in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Tomas Hertl 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; Hertl had 58 in 82 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 Tomas Hertl?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Tomas Hertl leads in 26 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 Hertl done against each other?
- In 7 games against each other in our data, Cates's team went 2–5. Cates had 1 points (0 goals) and Hertl had 6 (3 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Cates or Hertl?
- Against each other, Cates has won 9 and Hertl 10 of their 19 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 →