Who to start · 2025-26
Igor Chernyshov vs Macklin Celebrini
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Macklin Celebrini projects to 3.20 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Igor Chernyshov's 1.35.
Chernyshov had 19 points in 28 games; Celebrini had 115 in 82 games.
This week Chernyshov has 2 games left with 1 tough matchup; Celebrini has 2 left with 1 tough matchup. In ESPN default points scoring we project Celebrini for 5.2 to Chernyshov's 2.5 over the games left.
Macklin Celebrini has the better number in 25 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Chernyshov's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 −0.011, High-danger chances 52.7%, Fenwick 52.6%.
Celebrini's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 625, Hardest shot 97.9, Shots on goal 287.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Macklin Celebrini rates ahead, +13.2 to -0.1 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: Chernyshov is steady, Top-six in 5 of last 5 (was 12 of 20); Celebrini is surging, ixG/60 1.94 (was 1.10).
- • 2026-27 so far: 10 GP, 2 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 11 SOG.
- • Celebrini has played 8 of the Sharks' 10 games since Oct 1 (in and out of the lineup).
- • 2026-27 so far: 8 GP, 5 G, 9 A, 8 PPP, 37 SOG.
San Jose Sharks · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Igor Chernyshov
-0.1
category z-score total
Macklin Celebrini
+13.2
category z-score total
Under Standard (6 categories), Macklin Celebrini has the edge (Chernyshov wins 0, Celebrini wins 6 of 6 categories).
| Category | Chernyshov | Celebrini |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.27 | 0.58 |
| Assists / game | 0.29 | 0.95 |
| Plus/minus / game | 0.04 | 0.06 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.11 | 0.61 |
| Shots on goal / game | 1.43 | 3.89 |
| Hits / game | 0.52 | 0.64 |
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 scoring choice is shared with Who Should I Start: saved on this device, and on your account when you are signed in.
Head-to-head: Chernyshov vs Celebrini
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2025-26 to 2026-27: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Chernyshov blocked 2 of Celebrini's shots; Celebrini blocked 2 of Chernyshov's.
Goals each scored with the other picking up an assist (as teammates).
On the ice together
366:46 at 5-on-5 over 34 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27
- Shot attempts
- 380–312
- 54.9%
- Expected goals
- 22.2–16.4
- 57.5%
- Goals
- 24–19
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
Chemistry as teammates
How their expected-goal share at 5v5 changed together vs apart (shrunk for sample size), and how closely their DraftKings points moved game to game (raw, that season only; for forward linemates the typical value is about .28).
| Season | 5v5 min together | xG% lift | xGF/60 lift | DK correlation (raw) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 SJS | 305 | +3.7 | +0.22 | .22(−.14 to .53), 23 GP |
This week's schedule
Oct 19 to Oct 25. 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 cover the games left: Edgehalla's rest-of-season rates per game, adjusted for each opponent's scoring allowed, in ESPN default points.
Scored in ESPN default points (G 2, A 1, PPP 0.5, SHP 0.5, SOG 0.1, HIT 0.1, BLK 0.5). Use your league's scoring
Igor Chernyshov
4games (2 left)
2.5proj. ESPN default pts
- Mon, Oct 19 @ TOROpp allows 9th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
- Tue, Oct 20 @ MTLB2B
- Thu, Oct 22 @ OTT1.4 pts
- Sat, Oct 24 @ BOS1.1 ptsOpp allows 7th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
Macklin Celebrini
4games (2 left)
5.2proj. ESPN default pts
- Mon, Oct 19 @ TOROpp allows 13th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
- Tue, Oct 20 @ MTLB2B
- Thu, Oct 22 @ OTT2.9 pts
- Sat, Oct 24 @ BOS2.4 ptsOpp allows 2nd-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Igor Chernyshov or Macklin Celebrini in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Macklin Celebrini projects to 3.20 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Igor Chernyshov's 1.35. Chernyshov had 19 points in 28 games; Celebrini had 115 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, Igor Chernyshov or Macklin Celebrini?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Macklin Celebrini leads in 25 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
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 →