Who to start · 2025-26
Evan Bouchard vs Mathew Barzal
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Evan Bouchard projects to 3.14 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82.
Bouchard had 95 points in 82 games; Barzal had 72 in 81 games.
This week Bouchard has 1 game left with 1 tough matchup; Barzal has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Bouchard for 1.9 ESPN points to Barzal's 1.4.
Evan Bouchard has the better number in 23 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.
Bouchard's biggest edges: Hardest shot 98.1, High-danger chances 57.1%, Goals above expected +1.9.
Barzal's biggest edges: Penalty minutes 61, On-ice PDO 1006, Blocked shots 50.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 4 G, 4 A, 1 PPP, 10 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Evan Bouchard
2.55
fantasy points per game
Mathew Barzal
1.82
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Evan Bouchard has the edge.
| Points per game from | Bouchard | Barzal |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.51 | 0.47 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.90 | 0.65 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.20 | 0.12 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.01 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.27 | 0.23 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.04 | 0.04 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.62 | 0.31 |
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: Bouchard vs Barzal
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.
Bouchard 0G 0A, 20 SOG · Barzal 3G 5A, 16 SOG
Bouchard blocked 0 of Barzal's shots; Barzal blocked 1 of Bouchard's.
On the ice against each other (Bouchard's side)
10:47 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Bouchard's side
- Shot attempts
- 10–19
- 34.5%
- Expected goals
- 1.0–1.2
- 45.3%
- Goals
- 0–1
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Bouchard | Barzal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-15 | EDM 0–1 NYI | 0G 0A 6S | 0G 1A 2S |
| 2025-10-16 | EDM 2–4 NYI | 0G 0A 3S | 1G 1A 1S |
| 2023-12-19 | EDM 1–3 NYI | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 1A 1S |
| 2023-11-13 | EDM 4–1 NYI | 0G 0A 2S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2023-01-05 | EDM 4–2 NYI | 0G 0A 1S | 1G 0A 4S |
| 2022-11-23 | EDM 0–3 NYI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
| 2022-02-11 | EDM 3–1 NYI | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2022-01-01 | EDM 2–3 NYI | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 1A 0S |
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.
Evan Bouchard
3games (1 left)
1.9proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs VANOpp allows 5th-most FP to DLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Thu, Oct 1 @ VANOpp allows 5th-most FP to DLikely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs SEA1.9 ptsOpp allows 3rd-fewest FP to DLikely vs Joey Daccord (.897)
Mathew Barzal
2games (1 left)
1.4proj. ESPN pts
- Wed, Sep 30 @ TOROpp allows 7th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Anthony Stolarz (.893)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs NJD1.4 ptsOpp allows 8th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +4.1 win%vs Nico Daws (.908)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Evan Bouchard or Mathew Barzal in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Evan Bouchard projects to 3.14 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82. Bouchard had 95 points in 82 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, Evan Bouchard or Mathew Barzal?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Evan Bouchard leads in 23 of 33 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Bouchard and Barzal done against each other?
- In 8 games against each other in our data, Bouchard's team went 3–5. Bouchard had 0 points (0 goals) and Barzal had 8 (3 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 →