Who to start · 2025-26
Cale Makar vs Sidney Crosby
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Cale Makar projects to 2.70 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Sidney Crosby's 2.18.
Makar had 79 points in 75 games; Crosby had 74 in 68 games.
This week Makar has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Crosby has 1 left. We project Makar for 2.0 ESPN points to Crosby's 2.0.
Cale Makar has the better number in 24 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Makar's biggest edges: Net penalties drawn /60 +0.35, Expected goals 57.3%, Sequence xG 57.4%.
Crosby's biggest edges: Goals above expected +6.6, Penalty minutes 44, Ascension score 57.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 1 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Cale Makar
2.70
fantasy points per game
Sidney Crosby
2.18
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Cale Makar has the edge.
| Points per game from | Makar | Crosby |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.50 | 0.80 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.86 | 0.68 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.21 | 0.16 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.26 | 0.24 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.10 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.83 | 0.21 |
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 Crosby
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 0G 4A, 21 SOG · Crosby 4G 7A, 31 SOG
On the ice against each other (Makar's side)
8:07 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Makar's side
- Shot attempts
- 5–11
- 31.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.4
- 32.9%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Makar | Crosby |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-24 | COL 6–2 PIT | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 6S |
| 2025-03-04 | COL 4–1 PIT | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-12-10 | COL 6–2 PIT | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-03-24 | COL 5–4 PIT | 0G 1A 1S | 1G 3A 5S |
| 2023-10-26 | COL 0–4 PIT | 0G 0A 0S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2023-02-07 | COL 1–2 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2022-04-05 | COL 6–4 PIT | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-04-02 | COL 3–2 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2019-10-16 | COL 2–3 PIT | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 5S |
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)
Sidney Crosby
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 7th-most FP to CLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL2.0 ptsOpp allows 14th-most FP to Cvs Jakub Dobes (.901)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Cale Makar or Sidney Crosby 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 Sidney Crosby's 2.18. Makar had 79 points in 75 games; Crosby had 74 in 68 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 Sidney Crosby?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Cale Makar leads in 24 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 Crosby done against each other?
- In 9 games against each other in our data, Makar's team went 6–3. Makar had 4 points (0 goals) and Crosby had 11 (4 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 →