Who to start · 2025-26
Cale Makar vs Mattias Ekholm
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Cale Makar projects to 2.70 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mattias Ekholm's 1.43.
Makar had 79 points in 75 games; Ekholm had 41 in 82 games.
This week Makar has 1 game left; Ekholm has 1 left. We project Makar for 2.6 ESPN points to Ekholm's 1.6.
Cale Makar has the better number in 18 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Makar's biggest edges: On-ice PDO 1036, 20+ mph bursts 223, Power-play share 77.3%.
Ekholm's biggest edges: High-danger chances 58.3%, Hits 65, Fenwick 56.1%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 1 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Cale Makar
2.70
fantasy points per game
Mattias Ekholm
1.43
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Cale Makar has the edge.
| Points per game from | Makar | Ekholm |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.50 | 0.13 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.86 | 0.38 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.21 | 0.02 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.26 | 0.15 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.08 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.83 | 0.67 |
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 Ekholm
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 11G 20A, 76 SOG · Ekholm 2G 5A, 41 SOG
Makar blocked 2 of Ekholm's shots; Ekholm blocked 1 of Makar's.
On the ice against each other (Makar's side)
13:56 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Makar's side
- Shot attempts
- 8–16
- 33.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.8
- 40.6%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Makar | Ekholm |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-10 | COL 3–4 EDM | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-11-08 | COL 9–1 EDM | 2G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-02-07 | COL 5–4 EDM | 2G 1A 6S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-01-16 | COL 3–4 EDM | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-11-30 | COL 1–4 EDM | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-04-05 | COL 2–6 EDM | 0G 1A 0S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2024-03-16 | COL 3–2 EDM | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-12-23 | COL 3–2 NSH | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2022-12-17 | COL 3–1 NSH | 1G 1A 7S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-11-10 | COL 5–3 NSH | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-05-09 · PO | COL 5–3 NSH | 1G 2A 4S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2022-05-07 · PO | COL 7–3 NSH | 0G 3A 2S | 0G 1A 4S |
Latest 12 of 19 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)
2.6proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAK
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL2.6 ptsSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Mattias Ekholm
3games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VAN
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VAN
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.6 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Cale Makar or Mattias Ekholm 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 Mattias Ekholm's 1.43. Makar had 79 points in 75 games; Ekholm had 41 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 Mattias Ekholm?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Cale Makar leads in 18 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 Ekholm done against each other?
- In 19 games against each other in our data, Makar's team went 13–6. Makar had 31 points (11 goals) and Ekholm had 7 (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 →