Who to start · 2025-26
Brandon Hagel vs Mathew Barzal
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brandon Hagel projects to 2.15 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82.
Hagel had 74 points in 71 games; Barzal had 72 in 81 games.
This week Hagel has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Barzal has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Hagel for 1.8 ESPN points to Barzal's 1.4.
Brandon Hagel has the better number in 20 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Hagel's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 2.07, High-danger chances 59.0%, Scoring chances 58.3%.
Barzal's biggest edges: Offensive-zone time 45.4%, Faceoffs won 210, Power-play time per game 3:23.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brandon Hagel
2.26
fantasy points per game
Mathew Barzal
1.82
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Brandon Hagel has the edge.
| Points per game from | Hagel | Barzal |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 1.01 | 0.47 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.54 | 0.65 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.08 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.30 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.06 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.27 | 0.31 |
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 Barzal
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 4G 4A, 23 SOG · Barzal 1G 7A, 25 SOG
Hagel's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 0–1 · Hagel's defensive zone 0–0 (2021-22)
Hagel blocked 0 of Barzal's shots; Barzal blocked 1 of Hagel's.
On the ice against each other (Hagel's side)
17:09 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Hagel's side
- Shot attempts
- 22–12
- 64.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.8–0.5
- 64.2%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Hagel | Barzal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-13 | TBL 2–3 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2025-12-06 | TBL 0–2 NYI | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-12-02 | TBL 1–2 NYI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-02-01 | TBL 2–3 NYI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-03-30 | TBL 4–1 NYI | 0G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-02-24 | TBL 4–2 NYI | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 1A 6S |
| 2024-02-08 | TBL 2–6 NYI | 1G 0A 3S | 1G 1A 3S |
| 2022-10-22 | TBL 5–3 NYI | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-04-29 | TBL 6–4 NYI | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 3S |
| 2022-03-27 | TBL 4–1 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2021-12-05 | CHI 3–2 NYI | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2021-10-19 | CHI 1–4 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 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.
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)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NYROpp allows 7th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs WSH1.8 ptsOpp allows 10th-fewest FP to LWSchedule edge +13.4 win%vs Charlie Lindgren (.879)
Mathew Barzal
2games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ TOROpp allows 7th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Anthony Stolarz (.893)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs NJD1.4 ptsOpp allows 8th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Jake Allen (.904)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Brandon Hagel or Mathew Barzal 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 Mathew Barzal's 1.82. Hagel had 74 points in 71 games; Barzal had 72 in 81 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 Mathew Barzal?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Brandon Hagel leads in 20 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Hagel and Barzal done against each other?
- In 12 games against each other in our data, Hagel's team went 6–6. Hagel had 8 points (4 goals) and Barzal had 8 (1 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Hagel or Barzal?
- Against each other, Hagel has won 0 and Barzal 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 →