Who to start · 2025-26
Alex DeBrincat vs Cale Makar
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Cale Makar projects to 2.70 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Alex DeBrincat's 2.20.
DeBrincat had 85 points in 82 games; Makar had 79 in 75 games.
This week DeBrincat has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Makar has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project DeBrincat for 2.3 ESPN points to Makar's 2.0.
Cale Makar has the better number in 25 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
DeBrincat's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.060, Shots on goal 287, Transition attempts /60 1.78.
Makar's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 67.3%, Faceoffs won 0, Scoring chances 56.8%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 1 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Alex DeBrincat
2.20
fantasy points per game
Cale Makar
2.70
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Cale Makar has the edge.
| Points per game from | DeBrincat | Makar |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.94 | 0.50 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.86 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.13 | 0.21 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.33 | 0.26 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.83 |
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: DeBrincat vs Makar
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2019-20 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
DeBrincat 2G 1A, 50 SOG · Makar 9G 5A, 33 SOG
DeBrincat blocked 2 of Makar's shots; Makar blocked 2 of DeBrincat's.
On the ice against each other (DeBrincat's side)
9:44 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from DeBrincat's side
- Shot attempts
- 11–11
- 50.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.7–0.3
- 68.5%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | DeBrincat | Makar |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-02 | DET 2–0 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-01-31 | DET 0–5 COL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-03-25 | DET 2–5 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 5S |
| 2024-12-07 | DET 1–2 COL | 0G 0A 9S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2024-03-06 | DET 2–7 COL | 0G 1A 2S | 3G 1A 5S |
| 2024-02-22 | DET 2–1 COL | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2023-03-16 | OTT 4–5 COL | 0G 0A 6S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2023-01-14 | OTT 0–7 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-01-28 | CHI 4–6 COL | 0G 0A 5S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2022-01-24 | CHI 0–2 COL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2022-01-04 | CHI 3–4 COL | 2G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2021-10-13 | CHI 2–4 COL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
Latest 12 of 14 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.
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.
Alex DeBrincat
2games (1 left)
2.3proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs NYROpp allows 12th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Dylan Garand (.948)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs WPG2.3 ptsOpp allows 7th-most FP to RWLikely vs Stuart Skinner (.888)
Cale Makar
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows 3rd-most FP to DLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL2.0 ptsOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to DSchedule edge +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Alex DeBrincat or Cale Makar in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Cale Makar projects to 2.70 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Alex DeBrincat's 2.20. DeBrincat had 85 points in 82 games; Makar had 79 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, Alex DeBrincat or Cale Makar?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Cale Makar leads in 25 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have DeBrincat and Makar done against each other?
- In 14 games against each other in our data, DeBrincat's team went 2–12. DeBrincat had 3 points (2 goals) and Makar had 14 (9 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 →