Who to start · 2025-26
Clayton Keller vs Mathew Barzal
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Clayton Keller projects to 2.15 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82.
Keller had 88 points in 82 games; Barzal had 72 in 81 games.
This week Keller has 2 games left with 1 tough matchup; Barzal has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Keller for 2.9 ESPN points to Barzal's 1.4.
Clayton Keller has the better number in 20 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Keller's biggest edges: Hardest shot 91.3, High-danger chances 54.8%, Scoring chances 56.1%.
Barzal's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 210, Blocked shots 50, Goals above expected −1.5.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 2 PPP, 4 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Clayton Keller
2.03
fantasy points per game
Mathew Barzal
1.82
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Clayton Keller has the edge.
| Points per game from | Keller | Barzal |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.63 | 0.47 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.76 | 0.65 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.16 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.27 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.01 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.20 | 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: Keller vs Barzal
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 4G 9A, 49 SOG · Barzal 3G 7A, 35 SOG
Keller blocked 1 of Barzal's shots; Barzal blocked 1 of Keller's.
On the ice against each other (Keller's side)
8:01 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Keller's side
- Shot attempts
- 8–7
- 53.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.6–0.4
- 59.2%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Keller | Barzal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-01 | UTA 7–2 NYI | 1G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2025-11-14 | UTA 2–3 NYI | 0G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-01-11 | UTA 1–2 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2024-10-10 | UTA 5–4 NYI | 0G 2A 3S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2024-01-04 | ARI 1–5 NYI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2023-10-17 | ARI 0–1 NYI | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2022-12-16 | ARI 5–4 NYI | 2G 0A 5S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2022-11-10 | ARI 2–0 NYI | 0G 2A 3S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2022-01-21 | ARI 0–4 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2021-10-23 | ARI 0–3 NYI | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2020-02-17 | ARI 2–1 NYI | 1G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2019-10-24 | ARI 2–4 NYI | 0G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 1S |
Latest 12 of 16 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)
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 CSchedule edge +4.1 win%vs Nico Daws (.908)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Clayton Keller or Mathew Barzal 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 Mathew Barzal's 1.82. Keller had 88 points in 82 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, Clayton Keller or Mathew Barzal?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Clayton Keller 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 Keller and Barzal done against each other?
- In 16 games against each other in our data, Keller's team went 6–10. Keller had 13 points (4 goals) and Barzal had 10 (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 →