Who to start · 2025-26
Cale Makar vs Mitch Marner
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Cale Makar projects to 2.70 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mitch Marner's 1.88.
Makar had 79 points in 75 games; Marner had 80 in 81 games.
This week Makar has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Marner has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Marner for 2.3 ESPN points to Makar's 2.0.
Cale Makar has the better number in 21 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Makar's biggest edges: Top skating speed 23.7, 20+ mph bursts 223, Transition attempts /60 0.69.
Marner's biggest edges: Goals above expected +2.1, High-danger chances 59.0%, Shorthanded points 1.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 1 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 5 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Cale Makar
2.70
fantasy points per game
Mitch Marner
1.88
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Cale Makar has the edge.
| Points per game from | Makar | Marner |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.50 | 0.52 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.86 | 0.67 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.21 | 0.16 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.26 | 0.21 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.03 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.83 | 0.28 |
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 Marner
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 1G 6A, 32 SOG · Marner 5G 9A, 24 SOG
Makar blocked 2 of Marner's shots; Marner blocked 2 of Makar's.
On the ice against each other (Makar's side)
28:06 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Makar's side
- Shot attempts
- 26–22
- 54.2%
- Expected goals
- 1.2–0.8
- 61.7%
- Goals
- 1–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Makar | Marner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-26 · PO | COL 1–2 VGK | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-05-24 · PO | COL 3–5 VGK | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2025-12-27 | COL 6–5 VGK | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-10-31 | COL 4–2 VGK | 1G 1A 2S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2025-03-19 | COL 1–2 TOR | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-03-08 | COL 7–4 TOR | 0G 1A 3S | 2G 0A 4S |
| 2024-02-24 | COL 3–4 TOR | 0G 1A 3S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2024-01-13 | COL 5–3 TOR | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-03-15 | COL 2–1 TOR | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2022-12-31 | COL 2–6 TOR | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2021-12-01 | COL 3–8 TOR | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 1S |
| 2019-12-04 | COL 3–1 TOR | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 1S |
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 DLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL2.0 ptsOpp allows 4th-fewest FP to DSchedule edge +10.1 win%vs Jordan Binnington (.873)
Mitch Marner
3games (1 left)
2.3proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs CHIOpp allows 4th-most FP to RWLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs ANAOpp allows 11th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ VAN2.3 ptsOpp allows 9th-most FP to RWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Cale Makar or Mitch Marner 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 Mitch Marner's 1.88. Makar had 79 points in 75 games; Marner had 80 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 Mitch Marner?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Cale Makar leads in 21 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 Marner done against each other?
- In 12 games against each other in our data, Makar's team went 6–6. Makar had 7 points (1 goals) and Marner had 14 (5 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 →