Who to start · 2025-26
Arseny Gritsyuk vs Drake Batherson
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Drake Batherson projects to 1.92 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Arseny Gritsyuk's 1.45.
Gritsyuk had 31 points in 66 games; Batherson had 71 in 79 games.
This week Gritsyuk has 2 games left with 1 soft matchup; Batherson has 3 left with 2 tough matchups. In ESPN default points scoring we project Batherson for 4.8 to Gritsyuk's 3.1 over the games left.
Drake Batherson has the better number in 24 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Gritsyuk's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.68, Ascension score 73, Top skating speed 22.7.
Batherson's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 76.7%, Luck Meter +39, Power-play time per game 3:09.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Drake Batherson rates ahead, +5.2 to +1.4 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: Gritsyuk is surging, On-ice xGF/60 4.05 (was 2.50); Batherson is steady, +1:09 PP TOI.
- • 2026-27 so far: 9 GP, 4 G, 2 A, 2 PPP, 20 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 9 GP, 4 G, 2 A, 1 PPP, 21 SOG.
New Jersey Devils · Ottawa Senators · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Arseny Gritsyuk
+1.4
category z-score total
Drake Batherson
+5.2
category z-score total
Under Standard (6 categories), Drake Batherson has the edge (Gritsyuk wins 1, Batherson wins 5 of 6 categories).
| Category | Gritsyuk | Batherson |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.29 | 0.43 |
| Assists / game | 0.25 | 0.38 |
| Plus/minus / game | 0.01 | 0.03 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.13 | 0.28 |
| Shots on goal / game | 2.24 | 2.20 |
| Hits / game | 0.92 | 1.72 |
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: Gritsyuk vs Batherson
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.
Gritsyuk 2G 2A, 6 SOG · Batherson 2G 1A, 5 SOG
On the ice against each other (Gritsyuk's side)
6:36 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26 to 2026-27, from Gritsyuk's side
- Shot attempts
- 4–12
- 25.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.7
- 13.7%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Gritsyuk | Batherson |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-12 | NJD 1–4 OTT | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-01-31 | NJD 1–4 OTT | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-12-09 | NJD 4–3 OTT | 1G 2A 3S | 2G 0A 3S |
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
Arseny Gritsyuk
3games (2 left)
3.1proj. ESPN default pts
- Tue, Oct 20 vs COL
- Thu, Oct 22 vs ANA1.5 ptsOpp allows 13th-most FP to RWLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
- Sat, Oct 24 vs LAK1.6 ptsOpp allows 10th-most FP to RWLikely vs Darcy Kuemper (.891)
Drake Batherson
3games
4.8proj. ESPN default pts
- Wed, Oct 21 vs FLA1.5 ptsOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Akira Schmid (.892)
- Sat, Oct 24 vs NYR1.5 ptsOpp allows 7th-fewest FP to RWLikely vs Dylan Garand (.948)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Arseny Gritsyuk or Drake Batherson in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Drake Batherson projects to 1.92 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Arseny Gritsyuk's 1.45. Gritsyuk had 31 points in 66 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, Arseny Gritsyuk or Drake Batherson?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Drake Batherson leads in 24 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Gritsyuk and Batherson done against each other?
- In 3 games against each other in our data, Gritsyuk's team went 1–2. Gritsyuk had 4 points (2 goals) and Batherson had 3 (2 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 →