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Who to start · 2025-26

Dougie Hamilton vs Mathew Barzal

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mathew Barzal projects to 1.82 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Dougie Hamilton's 1.74.

Hamilton had 39 points in 77 games; Barzal had 72 in 81 games.

This week Hamilton has 1 game left; Barzal has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Hamilton for 1.6 ESPN points to Barzal's 1.4.

Mathew Barzal has the better number in 20 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.

Hamilton's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 1.42, Hits 87, Hardest shot 96.5.

Barzal's biggest edges: 20+ mph bursts 313, On-ice PDO 1006, Blocked shots 50.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 1 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 6 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Dougie Hamilton

1.63

fantasy points per game

Mathew Barzal

1.82

fantasy points per game

Under ESPN default points, Mathew Barzal has the edge.

Per-stat breakdown under ESPN default points
Points per game fromHamiltonBarzal
Goals (+2)0.310.47
Assists (+1)0.350.65
Power-play points (+0.5)0.090.12
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.000.00
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.260.23
Hits (+0.1)0.110.04
Blocks (+0.5)0.500.31

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: Hamilton 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.

HamiltonBarzal
11Team record in 22 meetings11
13Points in those games19

Hamilton 3G 10A, 76 SOG · Barzal 5G 14A, 49 SOG

1Shots blocked by the other1

Hamilton blocked 1 of Barzal's shots; Barzal blocked 1 of Hamilton's.

0Penalties drawn off the other2

On the ice against each other (Hamilton's side)

26:12 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Hamilton's side

Shot attempts
24–18
57.1%
Expected goals
1.0–0.6
60.9%
Goals
1–2

Games against each other

Games between Dougie Hamilton and Mathew Barzal
DateScoreHamiltonBarzal
2026-02-05NJD 1–3 NYI0G 0A 3S1G 0A 1S
2026-01-06NJD 0–9 NYI0G 0A 7S1G 2A 4S
2025-12-23NJD 1–2 NYI0G 0A 2S0G 0A 1S
2024-10-25NJD 3–4 NYI0G 0A 1S0G 1A 4S
2023-11-28NJD 5–4 NYI0G 0A 2S1G 2A 3S
2023-10-20NJD 5–4 NYI1G 0A 7S0G 1A 6S
2022-12-09NJD 4–6 NYI0G 2A 3S0G 2A 1S
2022-10-20NJD 4–1 NYI0G 0A 4S0G 1A 1S
2022-04-03NJD 3–4 NYI0G 1A 3S0G 0A 1S
2021-12-11NJD 2–4 NYI0G 0A 3S0G 2A 0S
2021-11-11NJD 4–0 NYI1G 1A 5S0G 0A 4S
2019-10-11CAR 5–2 NYI1G 1A 4S0G 0A 3S

Latest 12 of 22 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.

HamiltonBarzal

Fantasy box score

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.

Dougie Hamilton

2games (1 left)

1.6proj. ESPN pts

  • Thu, Oct 1 vs PHI
    Opp allows 2nd-most FP to DSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Joseph Woll (.899)
  • Sat, Oct 3 @ NYI1.6 pts
    Opp allows 16th-most FP to DSchedule edge −4.0 win%vs Ilya Sorokin (.906)

Mathew Barzal

2games (1 left)

1.4proj. ESPN pts

  • Wed, Sep 30 @ TOR
    Opp allows 7th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Anthony Stolarz (.893)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs NJD1.4 pts
    Opp allows 8th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +4.1 win%vs Nico Daws (.908)

FAQ

Should I start Dougie Hamilton or Mathew Barzal in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Mathew Barzal projects to 1.82 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Dougie Hamilton's 1.74. Hamilton had 39 points in 77 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, Dougie Hamilton or Mathew Barzal?
On 2025-26 numbers, Mathew Barzal 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 Hamilton and Barzal done against each other?
In 22 games against each other in our data, Hamilton's team went 11–11. Hamilton had 13 points (3 goals) and Barzal had 19 (5 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 →