Who to start · 2025-26
Brock Nelson 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 Brock Nelson's 2.23.
Nelson had 65 points in 81 games; Makar had 79 in 75 games.
This week Nelson has 1 game left; Makar has 1 left. We project Makar for 2.6 ESPN points to Nelson's 2.0.
Cale Makar has the better number in 19 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Nelson's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 36, Goals above expected +1.1, High-danger chances 57.1%.
Makar's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 0.69, Offensive-zone start % 67.3%, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.35.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 2 A, 3 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 1 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brock Nelson
2.23
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 | Nelson | Makar |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.89 | 0.50 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.86 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.20 | 0.21 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.22 | 0.26 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.38 | 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: Nelson vs Makar
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2019-20 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Nelson 6G 2A, 26 SOG · Makar 3G 12A, 32 SOG
Nelson blocked 7 of Makar's shots; Makar blocked 1 of Nelson's.
Goals each scored with the other picking up an assist (as teammates).
On the ice together
339:38 at 5-on-5 over 84 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27
- Shot attempts
- 364–313
- 53.8%
- Expected goals
- 18.7–11.9
- 61.1%
- Goals
- 19–11
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Nelson | Makar |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-01-28 | NYI 5–2 COL | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-10-14 | NYI 6–2 COL | 2G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-01-02 | NYI 4–5 COL | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 3A 2S |
| 2023-10-24 | NYI 4–7 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 2A 1S |
| 2022-12-19 | NYI 0–1 COL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2022-10-29 | NYI 5–4 COL | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2022-03-07 | NYI 4–5 COL | 1G 0A 4S | 2G 1A 8S |
| 2022-03-01 | NYI 3–5 COL | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 2A 4S |
| 2020-02-19 | NYI 1–3 COL | 1G 0A 4S | 0G 2A 3S |
| 2020-01-06 | NYI 1–0 COL | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 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.
Brock Nelson
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAK
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL2.0 ptsSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Cale Makar
2games (1 left)
2.6proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAK
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL2.6 ptsSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Brock Nelson 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 Brock Nelson's 2.23. Nelson had 65 points in 81 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, Brock Nelson or Cale Makar?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Cale Makar leads in 19 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Nelson and Makar done against each other?
- In 10 games against each other in our data, Nelson's team went 4–6. Nelson had 8 points (6 goals) and Makar had 15 (3 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 →