Who to start · 2025-26
Cale Makar vs Noah Cates
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Cale Makar projects to 2.70 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Noah Cates's 1.33.
Makar had 79 points in 75 games; Cates had 47 in 82 games.
This week Makar has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Cates has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Makar for 2.0 ESPN points to Cates's 1.5.
Cale Makar has the better number in 27 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Makar's biggest edges: 20+ mph bursts 223, Hardest shot 98.2, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.35.
Cates's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 44, Hits 102, 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, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Cale Makar
2.70
fantasy points per game
Noah Cates
1.33
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Cale Makar has the edge.
| Points per game from | Makar | Cates |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.50 | 0.39 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.86 | 0.31 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.21 | 0.05 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.26 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.11 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.83 | 0.30 |
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 Cates
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2022-23 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Makar 3G 4A, 17 SOG · Cates 0G 2A, 10 SOG
Makar blocked 1 of Cates's shots; Cates blocked 1 of Makar's.
On the ice against each other (Makar's side)
9:55 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Makar's side
- Shot attempts
- 13–6
- 68.4%
- Expected goals
- 0.5–0.2
- 70.2%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Makar | Cates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-23 | COL 3–7 PHI | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-12-07 | COL 3–2 PHI | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-02-02 | COL 2–0 PHI | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-11-18 | COL 3–2 PHI | 2G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-01-20 | COL 7–4 PHI | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-12-13 | COL 3–2 PHI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-12-05 | COL 3–5 PHI | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
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)
Noah Cates
3games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 vs PITOpp allows the fewest FP to LWLikely vs Arturs Silovs (.888)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NJDB2BOpp allows 9th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Jake Allen (.904)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs CAR1.5 ptsOpp allows 9th-most FP to LWSchedule edge +9.0 win%Likely vs Pyotr Kochetkov (.899)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Cale Makar or Noah Cates 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 Noah Cates's 1.33. Makar had 79 points in 75 games; Cates had 47 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 Noah Cates?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Cale Makar leads in 27 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 Cates done against each other?
- In 7 games against each other in our data, Makar's team went 5–2. Makar had 7 points (3 goals) and Cates had 2 (0 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 →