Who to start · 2025-26
Bryan Rust vs Ivan Barbashev
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Bryan Rust projects to 2.28 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59.
Rust had 65 points in 72 games; Barbashev had 61 in 82 games.
This week Rust has 1 game left; Barbashev has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Rust for 2.2 ESPN points to Barbashev's 1.8.
Bryan Rust has the better number in 18 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Rust's biggest edges: Power-play share 74.5%, Power-play time per game 3:18, 20+ mph bursts 124.
Barbashev's biggest edges: Expected goals 57.3%, Sequence xG 57.2%, Hits 137.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Bryan Rust
2.28
fantasy points per game
Ivan Barbashev
1.62
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Bryan Rust has the edge.
| Points per game from | Rust | Barbashev |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.81 | 0.56 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.50 | 0.46 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.17 | 0.04 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.05 | 0.17 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.49 | 0.23 |
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: Rust 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.
Rust 6G 8A, 33 SOG · Barbashev 2G 4A, 11 SOG
Rust's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 0–1 · Rust's defensive zone 0–0 (2021-22)
On the ice against each other (Rust's side)
10:41 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Rust's side
- Shot attempts
- 11–10
- 52.4%
- Expected goals
- 0.1–0.3
- 33.4%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Rust | Barbashev |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-12 | PIT 2–6 VGK | 0G 1A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2026-03-01 | PIT 5–0 VGK | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-03-07 | PIT 0–4 VGK | 0G 0A 5S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2024-01-20 | PIT 2–3 VGK | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2023-11-19 | PIT 3–0 VGK | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-02-25 | PIT 3–2 STL | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2022-12-03 | PIT 6–2 STL | 1G 3A 5S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-03-17 | PIT 3–2 STL | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2022-01-05 | PIT 5–3 STL | 2G 1A 5S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2018-12-29 | PIT 6–1 STL | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2018-02-11 | PIT 4–1 STL | 1G 1A 4S | 0G 0A 0S |
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.
Bryan Rust
2games (1 left)
2.2proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ PHIOpp allows 5th-most FP to RWLikely vs Dan Vladar (.906)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs MTL2.2 ptsOpp allows 12th-most FP to RWLikely vs Jakub Dobes (.901)
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 Bryan Rust or Ivan Barbashev in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Bryan Rust projects to 2.28 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59. Rust had 65 points in 72 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, Bryan Rust or Ivan Barbashev?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Bryan Rust leads in 18 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Rust and Barbashev done against each other?
- In 11 games against each other in our data, Rust's team went 8–3. Rust had 14 points (6 goals) and Barbashev had 6 (2 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Rust or Barbashev?
- Against each other, Rust has won 0 and Barbashev 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 →