Who to start · 2025-26
Dylan Cozens vs Ivan Barbashev
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Dylan Cozens projects to 1.90 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59.
Cozens had 59 points in 82 games; Barbashev had 61 in 82 games.
This week Cozens has 1 game left; Barbashev has 1 left. We project Cozens for 1.7 ESPN points to Barbashev's 1.5.
Dylan Cozens has the better number in 24 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Cozens's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 59, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.001, Transition attempts /60 1.42.
Barbashev's biggest edges: Plus/minus +20, Net penalties drawn /60 +0.54, On-ice PDO 1013.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Dylan Cozens
1.90
fantasy points per game
Ivan Barbashev
1.62
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Dylan Cozens has the edge.
| Points per game from | Cozens | Barbashev |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.68 | 0.56 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.38 | 0.46 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.18 | 0.04 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.25 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.26 | 0.17 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.15 | 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: Cozens vs Barbashev
Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2021-22 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.
Cozens 8G 3A, 30 SOG · Barbashev 2G 5A, 14 SOG
Cozens's offensive zone 0–0 · neutral 0–0 · Cozens's defensive zone 1–0 (2023-24)
On the ice against each other (Cozens's side)
6:56 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Cozens's side
- Shot attempts
- 8–7
- 53.3%
- Expected goals
- 0.2–0.9
- 17.0%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Cozens | Barbashev |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-25 | OTT 7–1 VGK | 2G 0A 5S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-11-26 | OTT 4–3 VGK | 0G 0A 4S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2024-03-02 | BUF 7–2 VGK | 2G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2023-12-15 | BUF 5–2 VGK | 1G 2A 3S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2023-01-24 | BUF 5–3 STL | 1G 0A 5S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2022-11-23 | BUF 6–2 STL | 1G 0A 6S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2022-04-14 | BUF 2–6 STL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2022-02-25 | BUF 3–5 STL | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 3A 2S |
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.
Dylan Cozens
1games
1.7proj. ESPN pts
- Sat, Oct 3 @ TOR1.7 pts
Ivan Barbashev
3games (1 left)
1.5proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs CHI
- Fri, Oct 2 vs ANA
- Sun, Oct 4 @ VAN1.5 ptsSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Dylan Cozens or Ivan Barbashev in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Dylan Cozens projects to 1.90 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59. Cozens had 59 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, Dylan Cozens or Ivan Barbashev?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Dylan Cozens leads in 24 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Cozens and Barbashev done against each other?
- In 8 games against each other in our data, Cozens's team went 6–2. Cozens had 11 points (8 goals) and Barbashev had 7 (2 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Cozens or Barbashev?
- Against each other, Cozens has won 1 and Barbashev 0 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 →