Who to start · 2025-26
Macklin Celebrini vs Michael Bunting
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Macklin Celebrini projects to 3.20 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Michael Bunting's 0.88.
Celebrini had 115 points in 82 games; Bunting had 33 in 74 games.
This week Celebrini has 2 games left with 1 tough matchup; Bunting has 2 left with 1 soft matchup. In ESPN default points scoring we project Celebrini for 5.5 to Bunting's 1.9 over the games left.
Macklin Celebrini has the better number in 23 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Celebrini's biggest edges: Plus/minus +8, On-ice PDO 1036, Ascension score 79.
Bunting's biggest edges: High-danger chances 52.7%, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.036, Corsi 51.9%.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Macklin Celebrini rates ahead, +13.2 to -3.7 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: Celebrini is surging, ixG/60 1.94 (was 1.10); Bunting is steady, On-ice xGF/60 0.79 (was 1.84).
- • 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.
- • 2026-27 so far: 7 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 PPP, 9 SOG.
San Jose Sharks · Philadelphia Flyers · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Macklin Celebrini
+13.2
category z-score total
Michael Bunting
-3.7
category z-score total
Under Standard (6 categories), Macklin Celebrini has the edge (Celebrini wins 5, Bunting wins 1 of 6 categories).
| Category | Celebrini | Bunting |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.58 | 0.13 |
| Assists / game | 0.95 | 0.22 |
| Plus/minus / game | 0.06 | -0.45 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.61 | 0.14 |
| Shots on goal / game | 3.89 | 1.57 |
| Hits / game | 0.64 | 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: Celebrini vs Bunting
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2024-25 to 2024-25: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Celebrini 1G 0A, 5 SOG · Bunting 0G 1A, 4 SOG
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Celebrini | Bunting |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-01-27 | SJS 2–1 PIT | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2024-11-16 | SJS 3–4 PIT | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 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
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
Macklin Celebrini
4games (2 left)
5.5proj. ESPN default pts
- Mon, Oct 19 @ TOROpp allows 10th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
- Tue, Oct 20 @ MTLB2B
- Thu, Oct 22 @ OTT3.0 pts
- Sat, Oct 24 @ BOS2.5 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jeremy Swayman (.908)
Michael Bunting
3games (2 left)
1.9proj. ESPN default pts
- Mon, Oct 19 vs COLOpp allows 9th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Mackenzie Blackwood (.903)
- Wed, Oct 21 @ BUF0.9 pts
- Sat, Oct 24 vs ANA0.9 ptsOpp allows 10th-most FP to LWLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Macklin Celebrini or Michael Bunting 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 Michael Bunting's 0.88. Celebrini had 115 points in 82 games; Bunting had 33 in 74 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, Macklin Celebrini or Michael Bunting?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Macklin Celebrini leads in 23 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Celebrini and Bunting done against each other?
- In 2 games against each other in our data, Celebrini's team went 1–1. Celebrini had 1 points (1 goals) and Bunting had 1 (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 →