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Who to start · 2025-26

Filip Hronek vs Mathew Barzal

Filip HronekFilip HronekCanucks · DefencevsMathew BarzalMathew BarzalIslanders · Centre

Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Filip Hronek projects to 2.03 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82.

Hronek had 49 points in 82 games; Barzal had 72 in 81 games.

This week Hronek has 2 games left with 1 soft matchup; Barzal has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Hronek for 3.5 ESPN points to Barzal's 1.4.

Mathew Barzal has the better number in 23 of the 33 stats both are ranked on.

Hronek's biggest edges: Transition attempts /60 0.80, Hits 133, Hardest shot 95.6.

Barzal's biggest edges: Plus/minus +10, Forecheck xG /60 0.36, Sequence xG 51.3%.

  • • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 4 A, 1 PPP, 3 SOG.

Fantasy value: your scoring

Filip Hronek

1.77

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 fromHronekBarzal
Goals (+2)0.200.47
Assists (+1)0.500.65
Power-play points (+0.5)0.130.12
Shorthanded points (+0.5)0.010.00
Shots on goal (+0.1)0.170.23
Hits (+0.1)0.160.04
Blocks (+0.5)0.610.31

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: Hronek vs Barzal

Every event between them in NHL play-by-play, 2018-19 to 2025-26: games against each other, faceoffs, shots on goal, hits and penalties. Regular season and playoffs.

HronekBarzal
6Team record in 12 meetings6
9Points in those games15

Hronek 4G 5A, 19 SOG · Barzal 1G 14A, 40 SOG

1Hits on each other0

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

13:42 at 5-on-5 over 2 games, 2025-26, from Hronek's side

Shot attempts
12–12
50.0%
Expected goals
0.9–0.3
73.4%
Goals
0–1

Games against each other

Games between Filip Hronek and Mathew Barzal
DateScoreHronekBarzal
2026-01-19VAN 3–4 NYI0G 1A 1S0G 2A 0S
2025-12-19VAN 4–1 NYI0G 2A 1S0G 1A 2S
2024-01-09VAN 5–2 NYI1G 1A 4S0G 1A 4S
2023-11-15VAN 4–3 NYI1G 0A 5S0G 2A 6S
2023-01-27DET 0–2 NYI0G 0A 4S0G 0A 3S
2022-11-05DET 3–0 NYI0G 0A 0S0G 0A 2S
2022-03-24DET 2–5 NYI0G 1A 0S0G 2A 2S
2021-12-04DET 4–3 NYI1G 0A 2S0G 2A 3S
2020-01-14DET 2–8 NYI1G 0A 1S0G 2A 2S
2019-12-02DET 1–4 NYI0G 0A 1S0G 1A 1S
2019-03-16DET 2–1 NYI0G 0A 0S0G 0A 8S
2018-12-15DET 3–4 NYI0G 0A 0S1G 1A 7S

Every stat, side by side

Season values; bars are percentiles at each player's position (longer is better). Click a stat for its explainer.

HronekBarzal

Fantasy box score

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

Transition, turnovers & faceoffs

Usage

Special teams & discipline

Luck & trend

NHL EDGE tracking

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.

Filip Hronek

4games (2 left)

3.5proj. ESPN pts

  • Tue, Sep 29 @ EDM
    Opp allows 13th-most FP to DLikely vs Tristan Jarry (.882)
  • Thu, Oct 1 vs EDM
    Opp allows 13th-most FP to DLikely vs Devon Levi (.682)
  • Sat, Oct 3 vs CGY2.1 pts
    Opp allows the most FP to DSchedule edge −3.4 win%Likely vs Dustin Wolf (.899)
  • Sun, Oct 4 vs VGKB2B1.4 pts
    Opp allows 12th-fewest FP to DSchedule edge −9.3 win%Likely vs Carter Hart (.891)

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)

Similar matchups

FAQ

Should I start Filip Hronek or Mathew Barzal in fantasy hockey?
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Filip Hronek projects to 2.03 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Mathew Barzal's 1.82. Hronek had 49 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, Filip Hronek or Mathew Barzal?
On 2025-26 numbers, Mathew Barzal 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 Hronek and Barzal done against each other?
In 12 games against each other in our data, Hronek's team went 6–6. Hronek had 9 points (4 goals) and Barzal had 15 (1 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 →