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Who to start · 2025-26

Cale Makar vs Lawson Crouse

Cale MakarCale MakarAvalanche · DefencevsLawson CrouseLawson CrouseMammoth · Left wing

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Cale Makar projects to 2.70 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Lawson Crouse's 1.65.

Makar had 79 points in 75 games; Crouse had 44 in 81 games.

This week Makar has 1 game left; Crouse has 2 left. We project Crouse for 3.0 ESPN points to Makar's 2.5.

Cale Makar has the better number in 25 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

Makar's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.35, Offensive-zone time 45.3%, Power-play points 29.

Crouse's biggest edges: Hits 212, Penalty minutes 46, Goals above expected +3.5.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 1 PPP, 1 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 1 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Cale Makar

2.70

fantasy points per game

Lawson Crouse

1.65

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Cale Makar has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromMakarCrouse
Goals (+2)0.500.56
Assists (+1)0.860.29
Power-play points (+0.5)0.210.04
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.000.01
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.260.17
Hits (+0.1)0.040.28
Blocks (+0.5)0.830.30

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 Crouse

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.

MakarCrouse
17Team record in 26 meetings9
23Points in those games15

Makar 6G 17A, 84 SOG · Crouse 7G 8A, 61 SOG

3Hits on each other3
4Shots blocked by the other1

Makar blocked 4 of Crouse's shots; Crouse blocked 1 of Makar's.

On the ice against each other (Makar's side)

22:02 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Makar's side

Shot attempts
13–25
34.2%
Expected goals
0.4–0.7
37.0%
Goals
0–0

Games against each other

Games between Cale Makar and Lawson Crouse
DateScoreMakarCrouse
2026-02-25COL 4–2 UTA0G 1A 2S0G 0A 3S
2025-12-23COL 1–0 UTA0G 0A 2S0G 0A 3S
2025-10-21COL 3–4 UTA1G 0A 2S1G 0A 4S
2025-10-09COL 2–1 UTA0G 1A 2S0G 0A 2S
2024-12-27COL 4–1 UTA0G 0A 4S0G 0A 1S
2024-12-12COL 1–4 UTA0G 0A 1S0G 1A 0S
2024-10-24COL 5–1 UTA1G 0A 6S1G 0A 2S
2024-02-18COL 4–3 ARI0G 0A 6S1G 0A 6S
2023-12-27COL 4–5 ARI0G 2A 5S1G 1A 1S
2023-12-23COL 4–1 ARI0G 0A 4S0G 0A 3S
2023-11-30COL 3–4 ARI1G 1A 4S0G 0A 3S
2023-03-26COL 4–3 ARI0G 0A 3S0G 0A 3S

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.

MakarCrouse

Fantasy box score

Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

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 LAK
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs STL2.5 pts
    Schedule edge +9.3 win%

Lawson Crouse

3games (2 left)

3.0proj. ESPN pts

  • Thu, Oct 1 vs CHI
  • Sat, Oct 3 @ CBJ1.5 pts
    Schedule edge −1.0 win%
  • Sun, Oct 4 @ NYRB2B1.5 pts
    Schedule edge −9.3 win%

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Cale Makar or Lawson Crouse 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 Lawson Crouse's 1.65. Makar had 79 points in 75 games; Crouse had 44 in 81 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 Lawson Crouse?
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 Makar and Crouse 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 Crouse had 15 (7 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 →