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Who to start · 2025-26

Brady Tkachuk vs Ivan Barbashev

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brady Tkachuk projects to 2.16 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59.

Tkachuk had 59 points in 60 games; Barbashev had 61 in 82 games.

This week Tkachuk has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Barbashev has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Tkachuk for 2.3 ESPN points to Barbashev's 1.8.

Brady Tkachuk has the better number in 23 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

Tkachuk's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 2.80, Penalty minutes 71, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.018.

Barbashev's biggest edges: Goals above expected +1.7, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.54, On-ice PDO 1013.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 5 SOG.
  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Brady Tkachuk

2.16

fantasy points per game

Ivan Barbashev

1.59

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Brady Tkachuk has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromTkachukBarbashev
Goals (+2)0.650.49
Assists (+1)0.540.53
Power-play points (+0.5)0.150.03
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.010.00
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.350.15
Hits (+0.1)0.290.18
Blocks (+0.5)0.170.20

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: Tkachuk vs Barbashev

Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2018-19 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.

TkachukBarbashev
5Team record in 12 meetings7
11Points in those games7

Tkachuk 3G 8A, 45 SOG · Barbashev 3G 4A, 10 SOG

On the ice against each other (Tkachuk's side)

2:52 at 5-on-5 over 1 games, 2025-26, from Tkachuk's side

Shot attempts
5–4
55.6%
Expected goals
0.1–0.1
52.7%
Goals
0–0

Games against each other

Games between Brady Tkachuk and Ivan Barbashev
DateScoreTkachukBarbashev
2026-01-25OTT 7–1 VGK0G 3A 3S0G 0A 0S
2024-11-21OTT 2–3 VGK0G 0A 6S0G 2A 2S
2024-10-25OTT 4–6 VGK0G 0A 5S2G 0A 2S
2024-02-24OTT 4–3 VGK0G 1A 4S0G 0A 0S
2023-12-17OTT 3–6 VGK1G 0A 5S1G 1A 1S
2023-02-19OTT 7–2 STL1G 2A 2S0G 0A 0S
2023-01-16OTT 1–2 STL0G 1A 3S0G 0A 0S
2022-03-08OTT 4–1 STL1G 0A 5S0G 0A 0S
2022-02-15OTT 2–5 STL0G 1A 0S0G 0A 3S
2019-10-10OTT 4–6 STL0G 0A 6S0G 1A 0S
2019-03-14OTT 2–0 STL0G 0A 1S0G 0A 1S
2019-01-19OTT 2–3 STL0G 0A 5S0G 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.

TkachukBarbashev

Fantasy box score

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.

Brady Tkachuk

3games (1 left)

2.3proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 @ CAR
    Opp allows 9th-most FP to LWLikely vs Brandon Bussi (.895)
  • Thu, Oct 1 @ SJS
    Opp allows 15th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)
  • Sun, Oct 4 @ ANA2.3 pts
    Opp allows 8th-most FP to LWLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)

Ivan Barbashev

3games (1 left)

1.8proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 vs CHI
    Opp allows 2nd-most FP to LWLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
  • Fri, Oct 2 vs ANA
    Opp allows 8th-most FP to LWLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
  • Sun, Oct 4 @ VAN1.8 pts
    Opp allows 5th-most FP to LWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)

FAQ

Should I start Brady Tkachuk or Ivan Barbashev in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brady Tkachuk projects to 2.16 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59. Tkachuk had 59 points in 60 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, Brady Tkachuk or Ivan Barbashev?
On 2025-26 numbers, Brady Tkachuk leads in 23 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
How have Tkachuk and Barbashev done against each other?
In 12 games against each other in our data, Tkachuk's team went 5–7. Tkachuk had 11 points (3 goals) and Barbashev had 7 (3 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 →