Who to start · 2025-26
Denver Barkey vs Konsta Helenius
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Konsta Helenius projects to 0.89 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Denver Barkey's 0.88.
Barkey had 17 points in 43 games; Helenius had 4 in 9 games.
This week Barkey has 2 games left; Helenius has 2 left with 1 soft and 1 tough matchups. In ESPN default points scoring we project Barkey for 2.0 to Helenius's 1.8 over the games left.
Konsta Helenius has the better number in 2 of the 2 stats both are ranked on.
Helenius's biggest edges: Luck Meter +9, Ascension score 50.
In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Konsta Helenius rates ahead, -2.3 to -2.5 in summed category z-scores.
Role trend over the last 5 games: Barkey is steady, PP1 in 4 of last 5 (was 0 of 20); Helenius is steady, On-ice xGF/60 2.19 (was 2.99).
- • 2026-27 so far: 8 GP, 0 G, 3 A, 2 PPP, 4 SOG.
- • Konsta Helenius is a rookie: 13 NHL games before this season.
- • Helenius has played 8 of the Sabres' 9 games since Oct 1 (in and out of the lineup).
- • 2026-27 so far: 8 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 0 PPP, 11 SOG.
Philadelphia Flyers · Buffalo Sabres · Who should I start? · Compare other players
Fantasy value: your scoring
Denver Barkey
-2.5
category z-score total
Konsta Helenius
-2.3
category z-score total
Under Standard (6 categories), Konsta Helenius has the edge (Barkey wins 2, Helenius wins 4 of 6 categories).
| Category | Barkey | Helenius |
|---|---|---|
| Goals / game | 0.08 | 0.12 |
| Assists / game | 0.31 | 0.26 |
| Plus/minus / game | -0.13 | -0.10 |
| Power-play points / game | 0.15 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal / game | 0.83 | 1.57 |
| Hits / game | 0.96 | 1.07 |
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 scoring choice is shared with Who Should I Start: saved on this device, and on your account when you are signed in.
Head-to-head
Denver Barkey and Konsta Helenius have no head-to-head events in our data yet (regular season and playoffs since 2019-20).
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
Oct 19 to Oct 25. 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 cover the games left: Edgehalla's rest-of-season rates per game, adjusted for each opponent's scoring allowed, in ESPN default points.
Scored in ESPN default points (G 2, A 1, PPP 0.5, SHP 0.5, SOG 0.1, HIT 0.1, BLK 0.5). Use your league's scoring
Denver Barkey
3games (2 left)
2.0proj. ESPN default pts
- Mon, Oct 19 vs COLOpp allows 15th-most FP to CLikely vs Mackenzie Blackwood (.903)
- Wed, Oct 21 @ BUF1.0 pts
- Sat, Oct 24 vs ANA1.0 pts
Konsta Helenius
2games
1.8proj. ESPN default pts
- Wed, Oct 21 vs PHI1.0 pts
- Sat, Oct 24 @ WSH0.8 ptsOpp allows 7th-fewest FP to CLikely vs Logan Thompson (.912)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Denver Barkey or Konsta Helenius in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Konsta Helenius projects to 0.89 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Denver Barkey's 0.88. Barkey had 17 points in 43 games; Helenius had 4 in 9 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, Denver Barkey or Konsta Helenius?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Konsta Helenius leads in 2 of 2 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
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 →