Who to start · 2025-26
Dylan Larkin vs Ivan Barbashev
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Dylan Larkin projects to 2.13 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59.
Larkin had 67 points in 74 games; Barbashev had 61 in 82 games.
This week Larkin has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Barbashev has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. We project Larkin for 2.2 ESPN points to Barbashev's 1.8.
Ivan Barbashev has the better number in 18 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Larkin's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 789, Penalty minutes 48, Transition attempts /60 1.39.
Barbashev's biggest edges: High-danger chances 57.9%, Expected goals 57.3%, Offensive-zone start % 67.1%.
Head to head on the dot, Larkin leads Barbashev 7–5.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Dylan Larkin
2.13
fantasy points per game
Ivan Barbashev
1.62
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Dylan Larkin has the edge.
| Points per game from | Larkin | Barbashev |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.92 | 0.56 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.45 | 0.46 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.16 | 0.04 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.31 | 0.16 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.06 | 0.17 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.22 | 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: Larkin 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.
Larkin 4G 5A, 29 SOG · Barbashev 7G 2A, 19 SOG
Larkin's offensive zone 1–1 · neutral 3–1 · Larkin's defensive zone 3–3 (2017-18 to 2024-25)
On the ice against each other (Larkin's side)
21:21 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Larkin's side
- Shot attempts
- 20–30
- 40.0%
- Expected goals
- 0.7–2.2
- 24.4%
- Goals
- 0–3
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Larkin | Barbashev |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-04 | DET 3–4 VGK | 0G 0A 4S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-11-04 | DET 0–1 VGK | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-03-22 | DET 3–6 VGK | 0G 2A 3S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2025-03-16 | DET 3–0 VGK | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2024-01-27 | DET 5–2 VGK | 2G 0A 3S | 1G 0A 1S |
| 2021-12-09 | DET 2–6 STL | 0G 1A 4S | 1G 0A 2S |
| 2021-11-24 | DET 4–2 STL | 1G 1A 1S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2019-10-27 | DET 4–5 STL | 1G 1A 2S | 0G 0A 1S |
| 2019-03-21 | DET 2–5 STL | 0G 0A 2S | 3G 0A 4S |
| 2018-11-28 | DET 4–3 STL | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2018-02-28 | DET 1–2 STL | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 0A 1S |
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 Larkin
2games (1 left)
2.2proj. ESPN pts
- Fri, Oct 2 vs NYROpp allows 15th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%
- Sun, Oct 4 vs WPG2.2 ptsOpp allows 4th-most FP to C
Ivan Barbashev
3games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs CHIOpp allows 2nd-most FP to LW
- Fri, Oct 2 vs ANAOpp allows 8th-most FP to LW
- Sun, Oct 4 @ VAN1.8 ptsOpp allows 5th-most FP to LWSchedule edge +9.3 win%
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Dylan Larkin or Ivan Barbashev in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Dylan Larkin projects to 2.13 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59. Larkin had 67 points in 74 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 Larkin or Ivan Barbashev?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Ivan Barbashev leads in 18 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Larkin and Barbashev done against each other?
- In 11 games against each other in our data, Larkin's team went 4–7. Larkin had 9 points (4 goals) and Barbashev had 9 (7 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Larkin or Barbashev?
- Against each other, Larkin has won 7 and Barbashev 5 of their 12 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 →