Who to start · 2025-26
Brandt Clarke vs Ivan Barbashev
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brandt Clarke projects to 1.97 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59.
Clarke had 40 points in 82 games; Barbashev had 61 in 82 games.
This week Clarke has 1 game left; Barbashev has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Barbashev for 1.8 ESPN points to Clarke's 1.6.
Ivan Barbashev has the better number in 17 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Clarke's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 0.71, Penalty minutes 63, Faceoffs won 0.
Barbashev's biggest edges: Hits 137, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.54, Hardest shot 87.4.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brandt Clarke
1.97
fantasy points per game
Ivan Barbashev
1.59
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Brandt Clarke has the edge.
| Points per game from | Clarke | Barbashev |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.18 | 0.49 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.37 | 0.53 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.07 | 0.03 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.19 | 0.15 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.03 | 0.18 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 1.12 | 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: Clarke vs Barbashev
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2024-25 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Clarke 4G 5A, 13 SOG · Barbashev 3G 3A, 15 SOG
Clarke blocked 1 of Barbashev's shots; Barbashev blocked 0 of Clarke's.
On the ice against each other (Clarke's side)
16:06 at 5-on-5 over 4 games, 2025-26, from Clarke's side
- Shot attempts
- 22–14
- 61.1%
- Expected goals
- 0.8–0.8
- 50.5%
- Goals
- 1–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Clarke | Barbashev |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-25 | LAK 4–6 VGK | 1G 1A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2026-02-05 | LAK 1–4 VGK | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 2A 0S |
| 2026-01-14 | LAK 2–3 VGK | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2025-10-08 | LAK 6–5 VGK | 1G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2025-03-09 | LAK 6–5 VGK | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-02-24 | LAK 5–2 VGK | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-10-30 | LAK 6–3 VGK | 0G 3A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-10-22 | LAK 1–6 VGK | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 4S |
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.
Brandt Clarke
2games (1 left)
1.6proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ COLOpp allows 12th-most FP to DLikely vs Mackenzie Blackwood (.903)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ SJS1.6 ptsOpp allows 13th-fewest FP to DSchedule edge −3.3 win%Likely vs Yaroslav Askarov (.884)
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 ANAOpp allows 8th-most FP to LWLikely 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 Brandt Clarke or Ivan Barbashev in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brandt Clarke projects to 1.97 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59. Clarke had 40 points in 82 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, Brandt Clarke or Ivan Barbashev?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Ivan Barbashev leads in 17 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Clarke and Barbashev done against each other?
- In 8 games against each other in our data, Clarke's team went 4–4. Clarke had 9 points (4 goals) and Barbashev had 6 (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 →