Who to start · 2025-26
Clayton Keller vs Ivan Barbashev
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Clayton Keller projects to 2.15 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59.
Keller had 88 points in 82 games; Barbashev had 61 in 82 games.
This week Keller has 2 games left with 1 tough matchup; Barbashev has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Keller for 2.9 ESPN points to Barbashev's 1.8.
Clayton Keller has the better number in 24 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Keller's biggest edges: Power-play share 71.5%, Ascension score 50, Power-play time per game 3:15.
Barbashev's biggest edges: Hits 137, Goals above expected +1.7, Luck Meter +43.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 2 PPP, 4 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Clayton Keller
2.15
fantasy points per game
Ivan Barbashev
1.59
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Clayton Keller has the edge.
| Points per game from | Keller | Barbashev |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.59 | 0.49 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.83 | 0.53 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.22 | 0.03 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.28 | 0.15 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.01 | 0.18 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.21 | 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: Keller 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.
Keller 15G 21A, 97 SOG · Barbashev 6G 8A, 42 SOG
Keller blocked 0 of Barbashev's shots; Barbashev blocked 1 of Keller's.
On the ice against each other (Keller's side)
44:19 at 5-on-5 over 9 games, 2025-26, from Keller's side
- Shot attempts
- 41–34
- 54.7%
- Expected goals
- 2.0–1.9
- 50.9%
- Goals
- 5–2
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Keller | Barbashev |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-01 · PO | UTA 1–5 VGK | 0G 0A 7S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2026-04-29 · PO | UTA 4–5 VGK | 0G 2A 4S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2026-04-27 · PO | UTA 4–5 VGK | 1G 0A 7S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2026-04-24 · PO | UTA 4–2 VGK | 0G 2A 0S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2026-04-21 · PO | UTA 3–2 VGK | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2026-04-19 · PO | UTA 2–4 VGK | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2026-03-19 | UTA 4–0 VGK | 2G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-11-24 | UTA 5–1 VGK | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2025-11-20 | UTA 1–4 VGK | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-11-30 | UTA 6–0 VGK | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2024-11-15 | UTA 2–4 VGK | 0G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-11-02 | UTA 3–4 VGK | 0G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
Latest 12 of 35 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.
Clayton Keller
3games (2 left)
2.9proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 vs CHIOpp allows 4th-most FP to RWLikely vs Arvid Soderblom (.880)
- Sat, Oct 3 @ CBJ1.4 ptsOpp allows 8th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge −1.0 win%Likely vs Jet Greaves (.908)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ NYRB2B1.4 ptsOpp allows 12th-fewest FP to RWSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Igor Shesterkin (.912)
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 Clayton Keller or Ivan Barbashev in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Clayton Keller projects to 2.15 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59. Keller had 88 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, Clayton Keller or Ivan Barbashev?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Clayton Keller 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 Keller and Barbashev done against each other?
- In 35 games against each other in our data, Keller's team went 20–15. Keller had 36 points (15 goals) and Barbashev had 14 (6 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 →