Who to start · 2025-26
Alex DeBrincat vs Ivan Barbashev
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Alex DeBrincat projects to 2.20 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59.
DeBrincat had 85 points in 82 games; Barbashev had 61 in 82 games.
This week DeBrincat has 1 game left; Barbashev has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project DeBrincat for 2.0 ESPN points to Barbashev's 1.8.
Alex DeBrincat has the better number in 21 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
DeBrincat's biggest edges: Turnover Ledger /60 +0.060, Transition attempts /60 1.78, Power-play time per game 3:17.
Barbashev's biggest edges: Goals above expected +1.2, Hits 137, High-danger chances 57.9%.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Alex DeBrincat
2.20
fantasy points per game
Ivan Barbashev
1.59
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Alex DeBrincat has the edge.
| Points per game from | DeBrincat | Barbashev |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.94 | 0.49 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.53 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.13 | 0.03 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.33 | 0.15 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.18 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.20 |
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 Barbashev
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2017-18 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
DeBrincat 10G 9A, 76 SOG · Barbashev 4G 6A, 38 SOG
DeBrincat's offensive zone 2–2 · neutral 0–0 · DeBrincat's defensive zone 0–0 (2017-18 to 2019-20)
On the ice against each other (DeBrincat's side)
4:47 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from DeBrincat's side
- Shot attempts
- 4–3
- 57.1%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.1
- 66.5%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | DeBrincat | Barbashev |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-04 | DET 3–4 VGK | 1G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-11-04 | DET 0–1 VGK | 0G 0A 6S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-03-22 | DET 3–6 VGK | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2025-03-16 | DET 3–0 VGK | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-03-09 | DET 3–5 VGK | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 2A 5S |
| 2024-01-27 | DET 5–2 VGK | 0G 1A 0S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2023-02-19 | OTT 7–2 STL | 1G 2A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-01-16 | OTT 1–2 STL | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-02-27 | CHI 0–4 STL | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2022-02-12 | CHI 1–5 STL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2021-11-26 | CHI 3–2 STL | 1G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2021-10-30 | CHI 0–1 STL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
Latest 12 of 25 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)
2.0proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs NYROpp allows 13th-most FP to RWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Dylan Garand (.948)
- Sun, Oct 4 vs WPG2.0 ptsLikely vs Stuart Skinner (.888)
Ivan Barbashev
3games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs CHIOpp allows 2nd-most FP to LWLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs ANALikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ VAN1.8 ptsOpp allows 5th-most FP to LWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Alex DeBrincat or Ivan Barbashev 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 Ivan Barbashev's 1.59. DeBrincat had 85 points in 82 games; Barbashev had 61 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, Alex DeBrincat or Ivan Barbashev?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Alex DeBrincat leads in 21 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have DeBrincat and Barbashev done against each other?
- In 25 games against each other in our data, DeBrincat's team went 9–16. DeBrincat had 19 points (10 goals) and Barbashev had 10 (4 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, DeBrincat or Barbashev?
- Against each other, DeBrincat has won 2 and Barbashev 2 of their 4 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 →