Who to start · 2025-26
Cale Makar vs Connor McDavid
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Connor McDavid projects to 3.45 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Cale Makar's 2.70.
Makar had 79 points in 75 games; McDavid had 138 in 82 games.
This week Makar has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; McDavid has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project McDavid for 2.3 ESPN points to Makar's 2.0.
Connor McDavid has the better number in 20 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Makar's biggest edges: Hardest shot 98.2, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.021, On-ice PDO 1036.
McDavid's biggest edges: Ascension score 62, Penalty minutes 44, High-danger chances 57.5%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 1 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 1 G, 6 A, 2 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Cale Makar
2.70
fantasy points per game
Connor McDavid
3.45
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Connor McDavid has the edge.
| Points per game from | Makar | McDavid |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.50 | 1.15 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.86 | 1.32 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.21 | 0.35 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.26 | 0.35 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.05 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.83 | 0.22 |
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 McDavid
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 7G 14A, 52 SOG · McDavid 11G 15A, 67 SOG
Makar blocked 4 of McDavid's shots; McDavid blocked 2 of Makar's.
On the ice against each other (Makar's side)
13:41 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Makar's side
- Shot attempts
- 12–16
- 42.9%
- Expected goals
- 0.8–0.8
- 48.5%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Makar | McDavid |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-10 | COL 3–4 EDM | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 5S |
| 2025-11-08 | COL 9–1 EDM | 2G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2025-02-07 | COL 5–4 EDM | 2G 1A 6S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2025-01-16 | COL 3–4 EDM | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2024-11-30 | COL 1–4 EDM | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2024-04-05 | COL 2–6 EDM | 0G 1A 0S | 2G 0A 9S |
| 2024-03-16 | COL 3–2 EDM | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 5S |
| 2023-01-07 | COL 3–2 EDM | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2022-06-06 · PO | COL 6–5 EDM | 1G 4A 4S | 1G 2A 5S |
| 2022-06-04 · PO | COL 4–2 EDM | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2022-06-02 · PO | COL 4–0 EDM | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-05-31 · PO | COL 8–6 EDM | 1G 2A 2S | 1G 2A 2S |
Latest 12 of 17 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)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAKOpp allows 3rd-most FP to D
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL2.0 ptsOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to DSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Connor McDavid
3games (1 left)
2.3proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VANOpp allows 6th-most FP to C
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 6th-most FP to C
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA2.3 ptsOpp allows 6th-fewest FP to C
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Cale Makar or Connor McDavid in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Connor McDavid projects to 3.45 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Cale Makar's 2.70. Makar had 79 points in 75 games; McDavid had 138 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 Connor McDavid?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Connor McDavid 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 McDavid done against each other?
- In 17 games against each other in our data, Makar's team went 11–6. Makar had 21 points (7 goals) and McDavid had 26 (11 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 →