Who to start · 2025-26
Cale Makar vs Dougie Hamilton
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Cale Makar projects to 2.70 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Dougie Hamilton's 1.74.
Makar had 79 points in 75 games; Hamilton had 39 in 77 games.
This week Makar has 1 game left; Hamilton has 1 left. We project Makar for 2.5 ESPN points to Hamilton's 1.6.
Cale Makar has the better number in 24 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Makar's biggest edges: 20+ mph bursts 223, On-ice PDO 1036, Top skating speed 23.7.
Hamilton's biggest edges: Goals above expected +1.0, Penalty minutes 50, Hits 87.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 1 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Cale Makar
2.70
fantasy points per game
Dougie Hamilton
1.74
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Cale Makar has the edge.
| Points per game from | Makar | Hamilton |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.50 | 0.42 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.86 | 0.33 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.21 | 0.09 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.26 | 0.28 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.12 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.83 | 0.50 |
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 Hamilton
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Makar 1G 12A, 22 SOG · Hamilton 2G 2A, 20 SOG
Makar blocked 1 of Hamilton's shots; Hamilton blocked 0 of Makar's.
On the ice against each other (Makar's side)
18:12 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Makar's side
- Shot attempts
- 16–26
- 38.1%
- Expected goals
- 0.7–1.1
- 40.3%
- Goals
- 1–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Makar | Hamilton |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-10-28 | COL 8–4 NJD | 0G 4A 4S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-10-26 | COL 3–4 NJD | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-02-26 | COL 5–1 NJD | 0G 2A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-12-08 | COL 4–0 NJD | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-11-07 | COL 6–3 NJD | 0G 3A 2S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2022-10-28 | COL 0–1 NJD | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2022-04-14 | COL 3–1 NJD | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2022-03-08 | COL 3–5 NJD | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
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)
Dougie Hamilton
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs PHIOpp allows 2nd-most FP to DSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Joseph Woll (.899)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ NYI1.6 ptsOpp allows 12th-most FP to Dvs Ilya Sorokin (.906)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Cale Makar or Dougie Hamilton 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 Dougie Hamilton's 1.74. Makar had 79 points in 75 games; Hamilton had 39 in 77 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 Dougie Hamilton?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Cale Makar leads in 24 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 Hamilton done against each other?
- In 8 games against each other in our data, Makar's team went 5–3. Makar had 13 points (1 goals) and Hamilton had 4 (2 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 →