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Who to start · 2025-26

Cale Makar vs Mika Zibanejad

Cale MakarCale MakarAvalanche · DefencevsMika ZibanejadMika ZibanejadRangers · Centre

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Cale Makar projects to 2.70 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mika Zibanejad's 2.27.

Makar had 79 points in 75 games; Zibanejad had 78 in 81 games.

This week Makar has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Zibanejad has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Makar for 2.0 ESPN points to Zibanejad's 1.4.

Cale Makar has the better number in 22 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

Makar's biggest edges: Plus/minus +32, Top skating speed 23.7, Expected goals 57.3%.

Zibanejad's biggest edges: Goals above expected +5.8, Hits 105, Shorthanded points 2.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 1 PPP, 1 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 3 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 6 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Cale Makar

2.70

fantasy points per game

Mika Zibanejad

2.27

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Cale Makar has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromMakarZibanejad
Goals (+2)0.500.81
Assists (+1)0.860.51
Power-play points (+0.5)0.210.21
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.000.01
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.260.25
Hits (+0.1)0.040.14
Blocks (+0.5)0.830.34

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 Zibanejad

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.

MakarZibanejad
8Team record in 12 meetings4
15Points in those games7

Makar 5G 10A, 43 SOG · Zibanejad 2G 5A, 37 SOG

1Shots blocked by the other0

Makar blocked 1 of Zibanejad's shots; Zibanejad blocked 0 of Makar's.

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

5:07 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Makar's side

Shot attempts
3–7
30.0%
Expected goals
0.3–0.2
66.1%
Goals
0–0

Games against each other

Games between Cale Makar and Mika Zibanejad
DateScoreMakarZibanejad
2025-12-06COL 3–2 NYR0G 1A 7S0G 1A 1S
2025-11-20COL 6–3 NYR2G 1A 9S0G 2A 0S
2025-01-26COL 5–4 NYR2G 1A 2S0G 0A 1S
2025-01-14COL 3–2 NYR0G 1A 2S0G 0A 3S
2024-03-28COL 2–3 NYR0G 0A 3S0G 0A 3S
2024-02-05COL 1–2 NYR0G 1A 1S0G 1A 2S
2022-12-09COL 1–2 NYR0G 0A 8S0G 0A 6S
2022-10-25COL 3–2 NYR0G 1A 2S0G 0A 6S
2021-12-14COL 4–2 NYR1G 0A 1S0G 0A 2S
2021-12-08COL 7–3 NYR0G 1A 2S0G 0A 4S
2020-03-11COL 3–2 NYR0G 3A 2S1G 0A 6S
2020-01-07COL 3–5 NYR0G 0A 4S1G 1A 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.

MakarZibanejad

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)

2.0proj. ESPN pts

  • Wed, Sep 30 vs LAK
    Opp allows 3rd-most FP to DLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs STL2.0 pts
    Opp allows 4th-fewest FP to DSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)

Mika Zibanejad

4games (1 left)

1.4proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 @ BOS
    Opp allows 5th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
  • Thu, Oct 1 vs TBL
    Opp allows 11th-most FP to CLikely vs Andrei Vasilevskiy (.912)
  • Fri, Oct 2 @ DETB2B
    Opp allows 4th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs John Gibson (.901)
  • Sun, Oct 4 vs UTA1.4 pts
    Opp allows 2nd-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Karel Vejmelka (.897)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Cale Makar or Mika Zibanejad 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 Mika Zibanejad's 2.27. Makar had 79 points in 75 games; Zibanejad had 78 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 Mika Zibanejad?
On 2025-26 numbers, Cale Makar leads in 22 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 Zibanejad done against each other?
In 12 games against each other in our data, Makar's team went 8–4. Makar had 15 points (5 goals) and Zibanejad 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 →