Who to start · 2025-26
Alex DeBrincat vs Drake Batherson
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Alex DeBrincat projects to 2.20 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Drake Batherson's 2.01.
DeBrincat had 85 points in 82 games; Batherson had 71 in 79 games.
This week DeBrincat has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Batherson has 1 left. We project DeBrincat for 2.3 ESPN points to Batherson's 1.7.
They split the 33 stats both are ranked on 16–16.
DeBrincat's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.78, Plus/minus +8, On-ice PDO 1010.
Batherson's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 76.7%, Scoring chances 56.3%, Goals above expected +5.3.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Alex DeBrincat
2.31
fantasy points per game
Drake Batherson
2.01
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Alex DeBrincat has the edge.
| Points per game from | DeBrincat | Batherson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.00 | 0.84 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.54 | 0.48 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.14 | 0.19 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.35 | 0.21 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.15 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.24 | 0.14 |
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: DeBrincat vs Batherson
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.
DeBrincat 3G 6A, 44 SOG · Batherson 1G 8A, 25 SOG
DeBrincat blocked 2 of Batherson's shots; Batherson blocked 1 of DeBrincat's.
Goals each scored with the other picking up an assist (as teammates).
On the ice against each other (DeBrincat's side)
15:36 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from DeBrincat's side
- Shot attempts
- 24–12
- 66.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.8–0.6
- 57.1%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | DeBrincat | Batherson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-24 | DET 2–3 OTT | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2026-02-26 | DET 2–1 OTT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2026-01-18 | DET 4–3 OTT | 1G 1A 7S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2026-01-05 | DET 5–3 OTT | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-03-27 | DET 3–4 OTT | 0G 1A 4S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-03-10 | DET 1–2 OTT | 0G 0A 11S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-01-07 | DET 3–2 OTT | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-12-05 | DET 1–2 OTT | 1G 0A 1S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2024-01-31 | DET 2–3 OTT | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-12-09 | DET 1–5 OTT | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2023-11-16 | DET 4–5 OTT | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2023-10-21 | DET 5–2 OTT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
Latest 12 of 14 meetings.
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.
Alex DeBrincat
2games (1 left)
2.3proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs NYROpp allows 12th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Dylan Garand (.948)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs WPG2.3 ptsOpp allows 7th-most FP to RWLikely vs Stuart Skinner (.888)
Drake Batherson
1games
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TOR1.7 ptsOpp allows 16th-most FP to RWLikely vs Sergei Bobrovsky (.877)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Alex DeBrincat or Drake Batherson in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Alex DeBrincat projects to 2.20 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Drake Batherson's 2.01. DeBrincat had 85 points in 82 games; Batherson had 71 in 79 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, Alex DeBrincat or Drake Batherson?
- On 2025-26 numbers they split 16–16 across 33 stats where both qualify.
- How have DeBrincat and Batherson done against each other?
- In 14 games against each other in our data, DeBrincat's team went 7–7. DeBrincat had 9 points (3 goals) and Batherson had 9 (1 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 →