Who to start · 2025-26
Brad Marchand vs Ivan Barbashev
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brad Marchand projects to 2.26 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59.
Marchand had 54 points in 52 games; Barbashev had 61 in 82 games.
This week Marchand has 1 game left; Barbashev has 1 left. We project Marchand for 2.3 ESPN points to Barbashev's 1.6.
Ivan Barbashev has the better number in 18 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Marchand's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.94, Power-play time per game 3:40, Power-play share 69.7%.
Barbashev's biggest edges: Plus/minus +20, High-danger chances 57.9%, Hits 137.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brad Marchand
2.26
fantasy points per game
Ivan Barbashev
1.62
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Brad Marchand has the edge.
| Points per game from | Marchand | Barbashev |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.04 | 0.56 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.52 | 0.46 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.20 | 0.04 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.27 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.07 | 0.17 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.15 | 0.23 |
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: Marchand 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.
Marchand 4G 8A, 41 SOG · Barbashev 2G 0A, 27 SOG
Marchand's offensive zone 0–1 · neutral 0–0 · Marchand's defensive zone 0–0 (2018-19)
Marchand blocked 0 of Barbashev's shots; Barbashev blocked 1 of Marchand's.
On the ice against each other (Marchand's side)
15:07 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Marchand's side
- Shot attempts
- 11–15
- 42.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.7–0.5
- 58.0%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Marchand | Barbashev |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-10 | FLA 3–2 VGK | 1G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-10-25 | FLA 3–0 VGK | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-02-08 | BOS 3–4 VGK | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-02-29 | BOS 5–4 VGK | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-01-11 | BOS 1–2 VGK | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2022-11-07 | BOS 3–1 STL | 0G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-04-19 | BOS 3–2 STL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-04-12 | BOS 2–4 STL | 0G 1A 6S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2019-10-26 | BOS 3–0 STL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2019-06-12 · PO | BOS 1–4 STL | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2019-06-06 · PO | BOS 1–2 STL | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2019-06-03 · PO | BOS 2–4 STL | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
Latest 12 of 18 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.
Brad Marchand
3games (1 left)
2.3proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Tue, Sep 29 @ CAR
- Thu, Oct 1 @ SJSSchedule edge −1.0 win%
- Sun, Oct 4 @ ANA2.3 pts
Ivan Barbashev
3games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Tue, Sep 29 vs CHI
- Fri, Oct 2 vs ANA
- Sun, Oct 4 @ VAN1.6 ptsSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Brad Marchand or Ivan Barbashev in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brad Marchand projects to 2.26 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59. Marchand had 54 points in 52 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, Brad Marchand or Ivan Barbashev?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Ivan Barbashev leads in 18 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Marchand and Barbashev done against each other?
- In 18 games against each other in our data, Marchand's team went 9–9. Marchand had 12 points (4 goals) and Barbashev had 2 (2 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Marchand or Barbashev?
- Against each other, Marchand has won 0 and Barbashev 1 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 →