Who to start · 2025-26
Noah Cates vs Will Smith
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Will Smith projects to 1.94 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33.
Cates had 47 points in 82 games; Smith had 59 in 69 games.
This week Cates has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Smith has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Smith for 1.9 ESPN points to Cates's 1.5.
Will Smith has the better number in 21 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Cates's biggest edges: Blocked shots 51, Hits 102, High-danger chances 52.6%.
Smith's biggest edges: Ascension score 64, Hardest shot 90.3, Transition attempts /60 2.05.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Noah Cates
1.33
fantasy points per game
Will Smith
1.94
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Will Smith has the edge.
| Points per game from | Cates | Smith |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.39 | 0.90 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.31 | 0.54 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.05 | 0.15 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.16 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.11 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.30 | 0.08 |
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 Smith
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2024-25 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Cates 2G 1A, 10 SOG · Smith 0G 1A, 8 SOG
Cates's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 0–0 · Cates's defensive zone 0–1 (2024-25)
On the ice against each other (Cates's side)
6:30 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Cates's side
- Shot attempts
- 5–6
- 45.5%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.3
- 45.2%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cates | Smith |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-21 | PHI 4–1 SJS | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2025-12-09 | PHI 4–1 SJS | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-12-31 | PHI 4–0 SJS | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-11-11 | PHI 4–3 SJS | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
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)
Will Smith
2games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs FLAOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Akira Schmid (.892)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs LAK1.9 ptsOpp allows the most FP to CSchedule edge +3.3 win%Likely vs Anton Forsberg (.910)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Noah Cates or Will Smith in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Will Smith projects to 1.94 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33. Cates had 47 points in 82 games; Smith had 59 in 69 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 Will Smith?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Will Smith leads in 21 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 Smith done against each other?
- In 4 games against each other in our data, Cates's team went 4–0. Cates had 3 points (2 goals) and Smith had 1 (0 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Cates or Smith?
- Against each other, Cates has won 0 and Smith 1 of their 1 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 →