Who to start · 2025-26
Ivan Barbashev vs Joel Eriksson Ek
Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Joel Eriksson Ek projects to 1.70 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59.
Barbashev had 61 points in 82 games; Eriksson Ek had 51 in 70 games.
This week Barbashev has 1 game left with 1 soft matchup; Eriksson Ek has 1 left with 1 tough matchup. We project Barbashev for 1.8 ESPN points to Eriksson Ek's 1.3.
Ivan Barbashev has the better number in 18 of the 34 stats both are ranked on.
Barbashev's biggest edges: Offensive-zone start % 67.1%, High-danger chances 57.9%, Goals above expected +1.7.
Eriksson Ek's biggest edges: Ascension score 53, Faceoffs won 681, Power-play time per game 3:29.
Head to head on the dot, Eriksson Ek leads Barbashev 13–7.
- • 2026-27 so far: 2 GP, 0 G, 2 A, 0 PPP, 2 SOG.
- • 2026-27 so far: 1 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PPP, 3 SOG.
Fantasy value: your scoring
Ivan Barbashev
1.59
fantasy points per game
Joel Eriksson Ek
1.70
fantasy points per game
Under ESPN default points, Joel Eriksson Ek has the edge.
| Points per game from | Barbashev | Eriksson Ek |
|---|---|---|
| Goals (+2) | 0.49 | 0.51 |
| Assists (+1) | 0.53 | 0.43 |
| Power-play points (+0.5) | 0.03 | 0.11 |
| Shorthanded points (+0.5) | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Shots on goal (+0.1) | 0.15 | 0.28 |
| Hits (+0.1) | 0.18 | 0.15 |
| Blocks (+0.5) | 0.20 | 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: Barbashev vs Eriksson Ek
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.
Barbashev 5G 10A, 44 SOG · Eriksson Ek 10G 12A, 107 SOG
Barbashev's offensive zone 4–6 · neutral 3–4 · Barbashev's defensive zone 0–3 (2017-18 to 2025-26)
Barbashev blocked 0 of Eriksson Ek's shots; Eriksson Ek blocked 1 of Barbashev's.
On the ice against each other (Barbashev's side)
20:34 at 5-on-5 over 3 games, 2025-26, from Barbashev's side
- Shot attempts
- 19–20
- 48.7%
- Expected goals
- 0.6–0.8
- 42.9%
- Goals
- 0–0
Games against each other
| Date | Score | Barbashev | Eriksson Ek |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-06 | VGK 2–4 MIN | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-12-29 | VGK 2–5 MIN | 0G 2A 1S | 1G 1A 2S |
| 2025-11-16 | VGK 2–3 MIN | 0G 1A 0S | 1G 0A 3S |
| 2025-05-01 · PO | VGK 3–2 MIN | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2025-04-29 · PO | VGK 3–2 MIN | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 2A 2S |
| 2025-04-26 · PO | VGK 4–3 MIN | 1G 1A 3S | 0G 1A 4S |
| 2025-04-24 · PO | VGK 2–5 MIN | 0G 0A 0S | 0G 0A 6S |
| 2025-04-22 · PO | VGK 2–5 MIN | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 3S |
| 2025-04-20 · PO | VGK 4–2 MIN | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 4S |
| 2025-01-12 | VGK 4–1 MIN | 0G 0A 3S | 0G 0A 0S |
| 2024-04-12 | VGK 7–2 MIN | 0G 0A 2S | 0G 0A 2S |
| 2024-03-30 | VGK 2–1 MIN | 0G 0A 1S | 0G 0A 3S |
Latest 12 of 40 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.
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.
Ivan Barbashev
3games (1 left)
1.8proj. ESPN pts
- Tue, Sep 29 vs CHIOpp allows 2nd-most FP to LWLikely vs Spencer Knight (.902)
- Fri, Oct 2 vs ANAOpp allows 8th-most FP to LWLikely vs Lukas Dostal (.888)
- Sun, Oct 4 @ VAN1.8 ptsOpp allows 5th-most FP to LWSchedule edge +9.3 win%Likely vs Kevin Lankinen (.875)
Joel Eriksson Ek
2games (1 left)
1.3proj. ESPN pts
- Thu, Oct 1 @ NSHOpp allows 10th-most FP to CLikely vs Juuse Saros (.893)
- Sat, Oct 3 vs BOS1.3 ptsOpp allows 5th-fewest FP to CSchedule edge +12.8 win%Likely vs Michael DiPietro (1.000)
Similar matchups
FAQ
- Should I start Ivan Barbashev or Joel Eriksson Ek in fantasy hockey?
- Blending 2025-26 with 2026-27 so far, Joel Eriksson Ek projects to 1.70 fantasy points per game under ESPN default scoring to Ivan Barbashev's 1.59. Barbashev had 61 points in 82 games; Eriksson Ek had 51 in 70 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, Ivan Barbashev or Joel Eriksson Ek?
- On 2025-26 numbers, Ivan Barbashev leads in 18 of 34 stats where both qualify, from scoring and power-play production to on-ice shot share and NHL EDGE tracking.
- How have Barbashev and Eriksson Ek done against each other?
- In 40 games against each other in our data, Barbashev's team went 26–14. Barbashev had 15 points (5 goals) and Eriksson Ek had 22 (10 goals).
- Who wins more faceoffs, Barbashev or Eriksson Ek?
- Against each other, Barbashev has won 7 and Eriksson Ek 13 of their 20 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 →