Who to start · 2025-26
Brock Nelson vs Ivan Barbashev
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brock Nelson projects to 2.23 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59.
Nelson had 65 points in 81 games; Barbashev had 61 in 82 games.
This week Nelson has 1 game left; Barbashev has 1 left. We project Nelson for 2.0 ESPN points to Barbashev's 1.6.
Brock Nelson has the better number in 24 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Nelson's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 735, Turnover Ledger /60 +0.000, Power-play time per game 3:14.
Barbashev's biggest edges: Hits 137, Luck Meter +43, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.54.
Head to head on the dot, Nelson leads Barbashev 8–6.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 2 A, 3 PPP, 1 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Brock Nelson
2.23
fantasy points per game
Ivan Barbashev
1.59
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Brock Nelson has the edge.
| Points per game from | Nelson | Barbashev |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.89 | 0.49 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.53 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.20 | 0.03 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.22 | 0.15 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.18 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.38 | 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: Nelson 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.
Nelson 6G 7A, 48 SOG · Barbashev 6G 5A, 30 SOG
Nelson's offensive zone 3–3 · neutral 3–0 · Nelson's defensive zone 2–3 (2017-18 to 2024-25)
On the ice against each other (Nelson's side)
27:29 at 5-on-5 over 7 games, 2025-26, from Nelson's side
- Shot attempts
- 38–30
- 55.9%
- Expected goals
- 1.9–1.1
- 62.5%
- Goals
- 2–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Nelson | Barbashev |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-26 · PO | COL 1–2 VGK | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2026-05-24 · PO | COL 3–5 VGK | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2026-05-22 · PO | COL 1–3 VGK | 0G 0A 1S | 2G 1A 3S |
| 2026-05-20 · PO | COL 2–4 VGK | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2026-04-11 | COL 2–3 VGK | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2025-12-27 | COL 6–5 VGK | 0G 1A 3S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-10-31 | COL 4–2 VGK | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-04-08 | COL 3–2 VGK | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-02-04 | NYI 2–1 VGK | 1G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-01-23 | NYI 2–3 VGK | 1G 0A 4S | 1G 1A 4S |
| 2024-01-06 | NYI 2–5 VGK | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2022-12-06 | NYI 4–7 STL | 0G 1A 4S | 1G 0A 4S |
Latest 12 of 20 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.
Brock Nelson
2games (1 left)
2.0proj. ESPN pts (season rate)
- Wed, Sep 30 vs LAK
- Sat, Oct 3 vs STL2.0 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 pts
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Brock Nelson or Ivan Barbashev in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Brock Nelson projects to 2.23 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59. Nelson had 65 points in 81 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, Brock Nelson or Ivan Barbashev?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Brock Nelson leads in 24 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Nelson and Barbashev done against each other?
- In 20 games against each other in our data, Nelson's team went 9–11. Nelson had 13 points (6 goals) and Barbashev had 11 (6 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Nelson or Barbashev?
- Against each other, Nelson has won 8 and Barbashev 6 of their 14 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 →