Who to start · 2026-27

Dylan Samberg vs Ivan Barbashev

Dylan SambergJets · Defence
vs
Ivan BarbashevGolden Knights · Left wing
RisingOn-ice xGF/60 3.06 (was 2.45)
SteadyixG/60 1.54 (was 0.75)

In 2026-27, Dylan Samberg scored 1.56 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.56.

Samberg had 8 points in 21 games; Barbashev had 16 in 21 games.

This week Samberg has no games left; Barbashev has 1 left with 1 soft matchup. In ESPN default points scoring we project Barbashev for 1.8 to Samberg's 0.0 over the games left.

Ivan Barbashev has the better number in 22 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.

Samberg's biggest edges: Faceoffs won 0, Goals above expected +1.7, Turnover Ledger /60 −0.010.

Barbashev's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 56.3%, Assists 12, Forecheck xG /60 0.32.

In standard categories (G, A, +/-, PPP, SOG, HIT), the default in Who Should I Start, Ivan Barbashev rates ahead, +1.8 to +0.0 in summed category z-scores.

Role trend over the last 5 games: Samberg is rising, On-ice xGF/60 3.06 (was 2.45); Barbashev is steady, ixG/60 1.54 (was 0.75).

  • • Samberg, last 10 games (Oct 27–Nov 14): 3 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 13 SOG.
  • • Barbashev, last 10 games (Oct 22–Nov 13): 3 G, 5 A, 1 PPP, 12 SOG.

Winnipeg Jets · Vegas Golden Knights · Who should I start? · Compare other players

Fantasy value: your scoring

Dylan Samberg

+0.0

category z-score total

Ivan Barbashev

+1.8

category z-score total

Under Standard (6 categories), Ivan Barbashev has the edge (Samberg wins 2, Barbashev wins 4 of 6 categories).

Per-stat breakdown under Standard (6 categories)
CategorySambergBarbashev
Goals / game0.140.19
Assists / game0.240.57
Plus/minus / game0.190.48
Power-play points / game0.000.14
Shots on goal / game1.191.33
Hits / game1.102.10

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: Samberg vs Barbashev

Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2022-23 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.

SambergBarbashev
4Team record in 13 meetings9
0Points in those games10

Samberg 0G 0A, 10 SOG · Barbashev 5G 5A, 18 SOG

0Hits on each other1
2Shots blocked by the other0

Samberg blocked 2 of Barbashev's shots; Barbashev blocked 0 of Samberg's.

1Penalties drawn off the other1

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

15:45 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Samberg's side

Shot attempts
12–15
44.4%
Expected goals
0.4–0.5
46.7%
Goals
1–0

Games against each other

Games between Dylan Samberg and Ivan Barbashev
DateScoreSambergBarbashev
2026-04-13WPG 2–6 VGK0G 0A 2S1G 1A 1S
2026-03-24WPG 4–1 VGK0G 0A 0S0G 1A 2S
2026-01-06WPG 3–4 VGK0G 0A 1S0G 0A 0S
2025-04-03WPG 4–0 VGK0G 0A 0S0G 0A 0S
2024-03-28WPG 1–4 VGK0G 0A 1S2G 0A 2S
2023-11-02WPG 2–5 VGK0G 0A 0S1G 1A 3S
2023-10-19WPG 3–5 VGK0G 0A 0S0G 0A 0S
2023-04-27 · POWPG 1–4 VGK0G 0A 1S0G 0A 5S
2023-04-24 · POWPG 2–4 VGK0G 0A 1S1G 0A 1S
2023-04-22 · POWPG 4–5 VGK0G 0A 1S0G 1A 1S
2023-04-20 · POWPG 2–5 VGK0G 0A 1S0G 0A 2S
2023-04-18 · POWPG 5–1 VGK0G 0A 1S0G 1A 0S

Latest 12 of 13 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.

SambergBarbashev

Fantasy box score

Possession & shot quality (5-on-5 on-ice)

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs, Usage, Special teams & discipline, Luck & trend, NHL EDGE tracking continue below

Every stat, side by side (continued)

SambergBarbashev

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

This week's schedule

Nov 9 to Nov 15. 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

Winnipeg Jets logo

Dylan Samberg

3games (0 left)

0.0proj. ESPN default pts

Vegas Golden Knights logo

Ivan Barbashev

3games (1 left)

1.8proj. ESPN default pts

  • Wed, Nov 11 vs UTA
    Opp allows 15th-most FP to LWLikely vs Sebastian Cossa (.862)
  • Fri, Nov 13 vs NSH
    Opp allows 10th-fewest FP to LWLikely vs Juuse Saros (.922)
  • Sun, Nov 15 vs VAN1.8 pts
    Opp allows the most FP to LWSchedule edge −3.1 win%Likely vs Leevi Meriläinen (.885)

Player data stories

How the game changed, told through the numbers.

All NHL data stories

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Dylan Samberg or Ivan Barbashev in fantasy hockey?
In 2026-27, Dylan Samberg scored 1.56 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.56. Samberg had 8 points in 21 games; Barbashev had 16 in 21 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 Samberg or Ivan Barbashev?
On 2026-27 numbers, Ivan Barbashev leads in 22 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
How have Samberg and Barbashev done against each other?
In 13 games against each other in our data, Samberg's team went 4–9. Samberg had 0 points (0 goals) and Barbashev had 10 (5 goals).

2026-27 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 →