Who to start · 2025-26
Brandon Hagel vs Ivan Barbashev
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brandon Hagel projects to 2.15 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59.
Hagel had 74 points in 71 games; Barbashev had 61 in 82 games.
This week Hagel has 1 game left; Barbashev has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Hagel for 2.2 ESPN points to Barbashev's 1.8.
Brandon Hagel has the better number in 28 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Hagel's biggest edges: Ascension score 58, Transition attempts /60 2.07, Penalty minutes 58.
Barbashev's biggest edges: Goals above expected +1.2, Hits 137, Luck Meter +47.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brandon Hagel
2.15
fantasy points per game
Ivan Barbashev
1.59
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Brandon Hagel has the edge.
| Points per game from | Hagel | Barbashev |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.95 | 0.49 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.53 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.07 | 0.03 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.30 | 0.15 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.06 | 0.18 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.25 | 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: Hagel vs Barbashev
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Hagel 6G 6A, 32 SOG · Barbashev 5G 2A, 19 SOG
On the ice against each other (Hagel's side)
10:29 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Hagel's side
- Shot attempts
- 14–8
- 63.6%
- Expected goals
- 0.7–0.2
- 80.4%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Hagel | Barbashev |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-06 | TBL 6–3 VGK | 2G 1A 4S | 2G 1A 3S |
| 2025-10-26 | TBL 2–1 VGK | 1G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-03-23 | TBL 2–4 VGK | 0G 1A 6S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-10-17 | TBL 4–3 VGK | 1G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2024-03-19 | TBL 5–3 VGK | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2023-12-21 | TBL 5–4 VGK | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2023-03-09 | TBL 3–4 VGK | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2023-01-14 | TBL 4–2 STL | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-11-25 | TBL 5–2 STL | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-02-27 | CHI 0–4 STL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2022-02-12 | CHI 1–5 STL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2021-11-26 | CHI 3–2 STL | 1G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
Latest 12 of 13 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.
Brandon Hagel
2games (1 left)
2.2proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 10th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH2.2 ptsSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)
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 Brandon Hagel or Ivan Barbashev in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brandon Hagel projects to 2.15 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59. Hagel had 74 points in 71 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, Brandon Hagel or Ivan Barbashev?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Brandon Hagel leads in 28 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Hagel and Barbashev done against each other?
- In 13 games against each other in our data, Hagel's team went 8–5. Hagel had 12 points (6 goals) and Barbashev had 7 (5 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 →