Who to start · 2025-26
Macklin Celebrini vs Zach Benson
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Macklin Celebrini projects to 3.20 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Zach Benson's 1.34.
Celebrini had 115 points in 82 games; Benson had 43 in 65 games.
This week Celebrini has 2 games left with 1 tough matchup; Benson has 2 left with 1 soft matchup. In ESPN default points scoring we project Celebrini for 5.5 to Benson's 3.2 over the games left.
Macklin Celebrini has the better number in 25 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Celebrini's biggest edges: Hardest shot 97.9, Faceoffs won 625, Goals above expected +5.9.
Benson's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 −0.014, High-danger chances 54.0%, Fenwick 52.7%.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Macklin Celebrini rates ahead, +13.2 to +3.0 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: Celebrini is surging, ixG/60 1.94 (was 1.10); Benson is rising, +2:28 PP TOI.
- • 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: 9 GP, 0 G, 6 A, 1 PPP, 18 SOG.
San Jose Sharks · Buffalo Sabres · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Macklin Celebrini
+13.2
category z-score total
Zach Benson
+3.0
category z-score total
Under Standard (6 categories), Macklin Celebrini has the edge (Celebrini wins 4, Benson wins 2 of 6 categories).
| Category | Celebrini | Benson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.58 | 0.13 |
| Assists / game | 0.95 | 0.54 |
| Plus/minus / game | 0.06 | 0.43 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.61 | 0.09 |
| Shots on goal / game | 3.89 | 1.87 |
| Hits / game | 0.64 | 0.93 |
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 Benson
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2024-25 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Celebrini 2G 0A, 8 SOG · Benson 0G 1A, 4 SOG
Celebrini's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 1–0 · Celebrini's defensive zone 0–0 (2024-25)
Celebrini blocked 1 of Benson's shots; Benson blocked 0 of Celebrini's.
On the ice against each other (Celebrini's side)
8:00 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Celebrini's side
- Shot attempts
- 6–9
- 40.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.6–0.8
- 43.2%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Celebrini | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-19 | SJS 0–5 BUF | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2026-03-10 | SJS 3–6 BUF | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-03-04 | SJS 6–2 BUF | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-11-23 | SJS 2–4 BUF | 0G 0A 3S | 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
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)
Zach Benson
2games
3.2proj. ESPN default pts
- Wed, Oct 21 vs PHI1.7 pts
- Sat, Oct 24 @ WSH1.5 ptsOpp allows 16th-most FP to LWLikely vs Logan Thompson (.912)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Macklin Celebrini or Zach Benson 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 Zach Benson's 1.34. Celebrini had 115 points in 82 games; Benson had 43 in 65 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 Zach Benson?
- 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.
- How have Celebrini and Benson done against each other?
- In 4 games against each other in our data, Celebrini's team went 1–3. Celebrini had 2 points (2 goals) and Benson had 1 (0 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Celebrini or Benson?
- Against each other, Celebrini has won 1 and Benson 0 of their 1 head-to-head draws.
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 →