Who to start · 2025-26
Cale Makar vs Clayton Keller
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Cale Makar projects to 2.70 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Clayton Keller's 2.15.
Makar had 79 points in 75 games; Keller had 88 in 82 games.
This week Makar has 1 game left; Keller has 2 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Keller for 3.1 ESPN points to Makar's 2.5.
Cale Makar has the better number in 20 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Makar's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 0, Transition attempts /60 0.69, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.021.
Keller's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 38, Ascension score 50, High-danger chances 54.8%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 1 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 2 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Cale Makar
2.70
fantasy points per game
Clayton Keller
2.15
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Cale Makar has the edge.
| Points per game from | Makar | Keller |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.50 | 0.59 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.86 | 0.83 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.21 | 0.22 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.26 | 0.28 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.01 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.83 | 0.21 |
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: Makar vs Keller
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.
Makar 6G 17A, 84 SOG · Keller 5G 11A, 68 SOG
Makar blocked 4 of Keller's shots; Keller blocked 3 of Makar's.
On the ice against each other (Makar's side)
22:10 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Makar's side
- Shot attempts
- 22–26
- 45.8%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.6
- 47.4%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Makar | Keller |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-25 | COL 4–2 UTA | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 5S |
| 2025-12-23 | COL 1–0 UTA | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2025-10-21 | COL 3–4 UTA | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 4S |
| 2025-10-09 | COL 2–1 UTA | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-12-27 | COL 4–1 UTA | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-12-12 | COL 1–4 UTA | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-10-24 | COL 5–1 UTA | 1G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2024-02-18 | COL 4–3 ARI | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2023-12-27 | COL 4–5 ARI | 0G 2A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-12-23 | COL 4–1 ARI | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-11-30 | COL 3–4 ARI | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2023-03-26 | COL 4–3 ARI | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 7S |
Latest 12 of 26 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.
Cale Makar
2games (1 left)
2.5proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows 3rd-most FP to DLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL2.5 ptsSchedule edge +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
Clayton Keller
3games (2 left)
3.1proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs CHIOpp allows 4th-most FP to RWLikely vs Arvid Soderblom (.880)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ CBJ1.4 ptsOpp allows 8th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ NYRB2B1.7 ptsOpp allows 13th-most FP to RWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Cale Makar or Clayton Keller 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 Clayton Keller's 2.15. Makar had 79 points in 75 games; Keller had 88 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, Cale Makar or Clayton Keller?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Cale Makar leads in 20 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Makar and Keller done against each other?
- In 26 games against each other in our data, Makar's team went 17–9. Makar had 23 points (6 goals) and Keller had 16 (5 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 →